Marxit Crisis

The Marxit Crisis was the threat by the Margatian government to withdraw from the Western Union in May 2017. With tensions increasing between fellow Western Union member Acadia and the international community, the Margatian government was not pleased with having to fund an organization that supported Acadia's "war-mongering actions", and threatened to pull out of the Western Union.

The crisis ended when Acadia agreed to tone down their provocation. Both sides agreed to the terms and subsequently, Margate ended the threat to leave the WU. President Simon McClark of the United Provinces later lamented how the crisis could have simply been avoided if Margate had vetoed the WU Army proposal until a compromise was achieved, and also that leaving the Western Union was never quite as simple as it sounds.

Declaration
 "GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MARGATE

WRITTEN ON THE EIGHTH OF MAY, TWO THOUSAND AND SEVENTEEN 

1.In the last year, the government Republic of Acadia made the decision to leave the Free Republic Union. While we respect the decisions that Acadia as a sovereign nation has made, we strongly condemn the threats Acadia has made to countries such as Dorkugal and East Pengolia. While we do not particularly like the governmental systems of these nations, as a fellow member nation of the Western Union, we urge Acadia to renounce their imperalist tendencies, as these are sovereign and independent nations who have done no wrong against us.

2.Since 2014, Margate has been part of the Western Union and up to this point we have paid our fair share of contributions to the Western Union's budget and military. However, with Acadia's warmongering tendencies, we do not support the use of our funds and military equipment and personnel to aid Acadia in her peace-threatening actions

3.We feel that our role as the most economically and militarily powerful nation in the Union has been taken for granted by these smaller nations in the Western Union. While we would gladly offer aid in times of need, we do not want to be used as a meatshield if Acadia is to go to war with innocent countries.

4.Hence, we demand that Acadia a.) dismantles its coalition of war-mongering nations, b.) renounce all imperialist claims and threats against other nations and c.) abide with Western Union rules and policies on creating a stable and peaceful Antarctica

5.If the above demands are not met within thirty days, Margate will trigger Article 67 of the Western Union Constitution and begin negotiations to leave the Western Union.

Frederick Mueller

President of the Republic of Margate"

- Government of the Republic of Margate, May 2017



Context
Margate had largely ignored the small city-state of Acadia for most of the latter's existence as a sovereign nation until the tiny nation was inducted into the Western Union. Irritated of it's role in the Bow Tie War and the Acadian government's somewhat belligerent attitude towards the international community (especially towards Dorkugal which was one of Margate's oldest allies and trading partners), the Margatian government grudgingly accepted Acadia as a member of the union, hoping to use it's influence to reduce Acadia's belligerence. Ties gradually improved as trade improved between the two nations and the rest of the Western Union.

In late 2016, the Acadian government chose to withdraw from the Free Republic Union in spite of the results from a referendum held earlier in the year. Like many in the international community, the Margatian government was under the impression that Acadia left because it's prime minister and ruling elite did not like the new Antarctican president, Megg and her running mate and to-be vice president Happyface141. Ties once again were soured as Margate condemned the Acadian government and accused them of cronyism.

The departure of Acadia from the FRU and their sudden hostility to the United States worried many in the Western Union. Tensions were high and the Margatians were unhappy when several controversial decisions were passed during the annual Western Union Congress, including the development of a Western Union combined army. At this stage, the Margatians were suspicious that Acaida was using them as a meatshield to advance it's "imperial ambitions", and refused to fund the army or provide equipment or manpower.

The Margatians finally snapped after Happyface's address to the Council condemning Acadia and threatening military action, and the formation of the United Antarctica Pact of Justice, and Acadia's belligerent response in the formation of the Antarctic Confederation. Not wanting any form of war with the superpowers of the continent or to continue supporting Acadia, the Margatian government issued an ultimatum to the Western Union Council and Acadia - Acadia would renounce all hostilities or Margate would leave.

Reactions from the political community
The United Provinces president Simon McClark was reportedly infuriated by Margate's ultimatum, and called President Mueller to blatantly ask him - "why?". A tense phone call took place between the two leaders, during which McClark tried to tell him that Acadia's dispute with the United States was no reason to sink the entire Union. Mueller responded by accusing McClark of shielding Brant Esser and stated that they are using their ultimatum as leverage to force Acadia to end their dispute with the United States - to which McClark responded that leaving the Western Union and tearing it apart solves nothing, "especially as it is a project we have worked on for so long and so painfully".

Brant Esser was alarmed by Margate's threat, and he called for an emergency meeting of the Situation Room where it was discussed how Acadia would respond to a potential threat to its existence. After the meeting, President Esser released a statement in which he voiced his concern about President Mueller's threat of destroying the Western Union in 'selfish refusal to defend an ally against an imperialist superpower'. President Mueller further went on to warn President Esser he has 29 days left and that the ramifications of refusing to comply are magnanimous.

The Western Union Commission went on to urge calm, and urged President Mueller to reconsider his threat to leave the Western Union - stating that the union brought world peace and prosperity, and that all disputes between its members must be solved internally through dialogue instead of hostile threats and violence. The Commission also stated that 'this dispute says more about us and how unorganized and unprepared we are to deal with much bigger threats than it does say about Acadia and Margate individually'.

After several days of bitter insults between the two countries' governments, President McClark invited Esser and Mueller to talks mediated by himself in Winsburg, the capital of the United Provinces. The two leaders were both at first hesitant to reply, but eventually agreed. A few days later, the two leaders met and in talks mediated by President McClark agreed to tone down rhetoric. However, no concrete agreement was reached, and Acadia was still waiting on the United States to respond.

Vice President Happyface141, upon being informed of the meeting's results and conclusions by President Mueller, welcomed the move by the two leaders and stated it is a positive move towards ending the diplomatic crisis between the three countries. A few days later, President Esser agreed to cut down his rhetoric against East Pengolia and Dorkugal, on condition US troops pull away from the Acadian-US border - facing international pressure, especially from the Western Union, Vice President Happyface141 agreed, and the crisis that threatened to tear apart the Western Union and bring war and destruction to Antarctica had ended.