The Rangers Are Coming (54 page)

              Arcadia took a deep breath.  There was no question in her mind the practical minded women in the group would push the American proposal to acceptance.  She also knew how to extend this victory for these women was the same as giving it to all women.  Give her five years in the schools and women would be passing the Master Civics Exam faster than the men.   

              “I do not like war,” said Moncrieff of France.  “It always brings tragedy and the need for higher taxes.

              Giovanni Lanza, Prime Minister of Italy said, “It’s so simple of a plan.  When Gallagher said it, I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it before.  Certainly, the benefits are worth more than mustering an army and going off to capture a weaker country, just because they have a gold mine.”

              Count Alfred von Potocki-Pilawa, Minister-President of Austria, brought up the crucial question, “Over half of Europe is ruled by Kings and Monarchs, most of whom are related in some way.  When we begin bringing in the American improvements it will significantly improve the standard of living for the common person and will produce a robust middle class.  This group has been seeking a more representative form of government and a bigger say in the affairs of the country for years.  Now they will have the numbers and the influence to get it.  The Kings who are still real kings and not constitutional Monarchs know their days are numbered, but will, nevertheless resist with all their strength.  Our King Franz-Joseph could not be bothered to come to America, so he sent me.  How do you think he will react when I go home and tell him that Austria-Hungary, has just joined a United Nations and that this group will interfere with his sovereignty, at least as it relates to waging war?”

              “Perhaps you would like to hear from an actually reigning Monarch,” said Alexander II, of Russia.  He went on, “I agree with Alfred.  He and I have spent a great deal of time together in America, and I told him that the time of Kings and Czars are ending.  It was actually the United States that started the movement, gaining independence for England, the world’s greatest power, then and now.  I don’t have to tell any of you the United States has made the most of its independence.  They have wisely refrained from getting involved in any foreign matters.”

              “For the remaining Monarchs, we spend all our time fighting with our own people.  There have been three assassination attempts on my life in the last two years.  I must tell you the time of the people is coming, sooner than you might think.  They are no longer willing to be poor serfs with no futures.”

              “This proposal from the United States does several things.  First, the flood of technology of the kind we have seen here will make any government very popular with their people.  Next, we can institute real reforms.  I suppose I will have to imprison or execute several thousand major landowners, but after that, I can continue to improve the lives of the people and give them what they want, a real republic, like this one.  Maybe we can copy their constitution.  The best thing of all, is I get to be a constitutional Czar with no real power, but the undying love of the people.  I can retire and spend my time visiting hospitals and dedicating new bridges and dams, as fast as the Americans can show us how to build them.”

              “I’ll tell you one thing for sure.  This is not the last time I’m coming to America.”

              “Think how much money we can save by cutting our military budgets down to a bare minimum, “said Gladstone.  That will free more money to buy more from the United States.  I can tell you it will be a great comfort not to have to worry about wars.”

              “How would we handle the admission of new countries into our United Nations,” asked the Greek Prime Minister.

              “I should think,” said Gladstone, they would have to agree to the terms of the charter.  That would mean universal suffrage, no fighting of wars.  It would be diplomacy, negotiation, and if necessary arbitration.  I don’t have many problems with letting the legal system in the United States rule on tough issues.  After all, they have a hundred years of disciplining themselves with strict neutrality.  If we can’t count on the Americans to be fair, as they have been in all their dealings with all of us, then who else could we trust?”

              It took three days for the delegates of the European powers to come to a unanimous agreement.  There were some very tough negotiations, a few of the leaders were a little hesitant to give up their intense nationalism and dreams of colonial rule, but the American Pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow was a powerful incentive.

              Count Alfred von Potocki-Pilawa, President of Austria went to President Gallagher privately and told him that King Franz-Joseph was going to be one tough nut to crack and wondered if Gallagher could help him.  Gallagher got on the phone to his ambassador in Budapest and had him call on the King.  It took him two days of intense talks and the threat of getting no trade from the United States before the King agreed.  He was probably the most impressed by being able to talk to his Count personally on the phone and give his blessing to the United Nations.

              President Gallagher had to handle one problem he had not truly considered.  It came from Gladstone who visited the Oval Office.  “Mr. President, other countries are going to want to join this special club of ours.  We have worked out the details for them becoming members.  However, with the drastic reductions in our military forces, what is going to keep a big nation, like China from invading Russia or other such rogue nations.  I believe the United Nations should have a military arm of its own to protect our members.”

              Gallagher had to go to Arcadia to get an insight into that.  “The United Nations of my time is nothing like the one we are forming is going to be.  They have a military arm.  They’re called Peacekeepers and they are only used to keep two sides from fighting.  It doesn’t work.  I agree the member nations need to feel more secure.  Tell you what, if we have a problem like that we will tell the belligerents, ‘The Rangers Are Coming’.  That ought to squelch most of the problems.  If not, we can always make an example of some country that won’t behave.”

              Gallagher passed on the solution to Gladstone, who shuddered, “The British have first-hand experience of what it’s like to face the Rangers.  Even today, their reputation throughout the world is legendary.”

              “I can assure you, William, the Rangers are more lethal today than they were a hundred years ago.  We considered having them put on a firepower demonstration, but decided against it.  The whole idea of this visit was to make peace, not war.”

              The time in America for the Europeans was running out.  None of them were looking forward to going home.  They had changed so much.  They had gotten very accustomed to the casual luxury of life in the United States.  All of them had made friends with Americans.  Some more than others.

              “Father, I need to speak to you on a very serious matter,” said Herbert to William Gladstone. 

“What would you like to discuss Herbert?” said William, who pretended he didn’t know what was coming.

“I would like your permission to remain in the United States permanently.”

“Your life is in England, son, your friends, and your school.”

“I know that, Father, but Andrea Marie is not in England, and I could not consider asking her to leave America to live in London.

“Ah,” said William, “So it is a matter of the heart?”

“Yes, indeed, father, we are very much in love.”

“How does her family feel about this?”

“They want us to finish school, of course, but I think they approve of me.”

“They do, indeed, Herbert,” said William.  “I had a most interesting conversation with Mr. Franklin, just last night.  The general consensus is that you and Andrea Marie were made for each other.  Mr. Franklin believes you will make a cracker-jack addition to his company.”

“You have spoken to Mr. Franklin?”

“More than once,” said William.  Once your mother spotted the stars in your eyes over this girl, we felt it necessary to speak to them and find out if they approved of you, ‘Herby’.”

“That’s what they call me.”

“Well, she’s a lovely girl, and we approve of her.  President Gallagher says you can take your tests next month to see where you fit in Washington University.  I would imagine you are destined for the Political Science research center.”

“I’ve invited their family to the banquet tomorrow night.”

“We will miss you, of course, Herb, but I expect to see you often with my visits to Washington on official business.  Benjamin Disraeli will be the next Prime Minister of Great Britain.  I will be his official representative.  I expect our whole family will move here within a year or so.”

“That’s wonderful news, father!”

“We have fallen in love with America, too.”

The final banquet of the Europeans was scheduled on the evening after the formal signing of the United Nations Charter at the U.S. Capitol.

President Gallagher presided over the ceremony.  The formal document was a statement of peace and purpose meant for the whole world.  The United States would be the official headquarters of the United Nations and was charged with the responsibility of being the neutral court to handle disputes, and to provide security for members.  The charter incorporated the bill of rights from the U.S. Constitution.  Arcadia wanted all people to have the right to bear arms against tyranny.

In a grand ceremony each nation signed the document, not only each nation, but also all the people who had a part in its creation.  153 women signed the document.

Then it was time for a party.

The ballroom at the resort was the only place large enough to hold the big crowd.  The temporary walls were pulled back to make the room almost twice the size of what the Europeans were used to.  Most of them didn’t know the room could be expanded so much. 

Not only were all the Europeans there, but for the first time the government of the United States was also invited.  The President’s entire Cabinet was there, plus half the Congress came in for the event, and some of the senior leaders of business companies were invited.  All of them were intensely interested and supportive of the President’s grand strategy, but had avoided getting involved for fear of complicating the process.  Now they were delighted with what had been accomplished.

The Americans mixed freely with the Europeans.  They were privately and thoroughly briefed on what was being attempted.  Now they not only congratulated and praised the European delegation for their good sense and farsighted discernment, but also began the process of implementing the U.S portion of the deal.

“As we see it,” said the Head Master of the Political Science Research Center, “the biggest problem you are going to have is being believed.  Tell me,” he said to Giovanni Lanza, Prime Minister of Italy, “would you have believed what you have seen in America if you were not here to witness it with your own eyes?”

“Obviously not,” said Lanza, “The wonders of the United States are so vast, your technology and science so advanced, I’m not sure I believe it now.”

“We have planned this for a long time,” said the Head Master.  “At this moment, in all the major harbors of Europe are cargo ships we sent in advance.  In them are some advanced generators, very large plasma screens, big enough to fill the stages of your largest opera houses and projectors.  We have done a good job of recording and documenting your visit.  We have techs to install these big screens and get them ready to work.  You should open the doors of your theaters and start running the videos around the clock, every day.  Make the first showing a gala event for your government leaders and other important people, and then run the videos for the people, free of charge, of course.  The videos also contain special features showing our technology in detail.  You simply say your country is going to get all of these marvelous things and you have devised a means of preventing armed conflicts in the future through the United Nations.”

“We have workers and equipment on those ships that can start building roads, dams, providing electrical power plants, and steel mills immediately.  We will give jobs to many people.”

“In other words, we intend to prove the videos they see, which will be amazing in themselves, are not just pictures, but can be put into practice immediately.”

“At the same time you are doing this, we will be flying all your great scientists and key leaders from all over Europe, to America to give them the same treatment you got, probably minus the vacations to our national parks.” 

“One of the major advantages you will have over others in your countries will be the use of this,”  the Head Master pulled out a black, rectangular object with a keypad on it and an antenna, “this is how we keep in contact with our ambassadors in Europe.  It’s a communication devise, like the phones you’ve been using.  This one will allow you to call us from Europe.  It runs on batteries, which can be recharged by plugging it into an electrical outlet.  You won’t have electricity for a while, but the American ambassador has a way to recharge your battery.  Here’s a little pamphlet telling you all about it, and a list of numbers to reach people in the U.S., including the President.  You can also call other leaders who are here.  They are also getting phones.  Their numbers are in the pamphlet.  Good communications with others will give you a great advantage.”

“Thank you,” said Lanza.  “I’m sure this will be a great aid.”

“If you will excuse me,” said the Head Master, “I have more phones to pass out, and the same speech to give to the rest of the leaders I haven’t spoken to yet.”

William Gladstone had already received his phone.  He was having dinner with the Franklin family and getting to know them better.  He liked both Ben and Marie Franklin and learned that Ben was named for his grandfather  four times removed, the famous Founding Father.  The two lovers, Herbert and Andrea Marie were sitting together, carrying on a private conversation, and holding hands under the table.  Both families though it was a good match.