Alternative History: WWI

How would you give Thema dreadnought when ships like that don't yet exist?

Very well... I just wouldn't expect it to effect such a small country first, especially if there weren't many issues... But if the public opinion yes, then by all means...

It seems I was mistaken on the date of the construction of the Dreadnoughts.
Ehh, Maine-class BBs (the most recent US Battleship class) should suffice for Napoleon Bonaparte.

Well, my scenario explores the possibility if Nicholas II actually trusted his mentor and predecessor's chief advisor, Sergei Witte. 

Witte believed that a modernized Russia would in the end lead to Russia becoming a constitusional monarchy, and right now he's only setting that up (IRL,  the person who created the reforms in 1905 was Witte).

I don't think waiting for revolutions to happen would be possible, as I'm not even sure if the Russo-Japanese War would start and if Russia would even lose. 

That paragraph (the governors one) was written because I wanted to form Congress Poland, for personal reasons and RP reasons (Polish manpower). 

I could say that instead of being elected, the governors were chosen by Nicholas and Witte. Major educational reforms are only beginning (ironically, by making schools more like military academies). However, one of the military reforms that Russia made was to lessen time as a conscript if the conscript was educated, thus increasing the peasantry's demands for education.

I would not say that the Russian peasantry was totally uneducated, though. Rural schooling and rural teachers did exist (mainly controlled by the Church). Attendance were less than half in some regions, but you have to consider that up to a quarter of London's children didn't attend school, and predictably less for the rural regions. 

Yes, only a quarter of Russians were literate, but more men were literate (in one district 61.5 % of males were literate and 15.0 % females were). Men, as the breadwinner at that time had more influence than women. Other than that, rural teachers had power, forming the All Russian Teachers' Union (which would play a role in 1917). It is not difficult for the rural teachers (another trait of uneducated peasants is to generally respect the educated teachers) to argue (both written and oral) in support of a democratic Russia and for literate men to influence their local communities to do such. 

I wouldn't say that I'm rushing with my reforms. The role of the Duma is undefined yet, and the Tsar could disband the Duma with the wave of a finger. I tend to agree on your point on democratic governors, though I don't believe it would change much, as the only two classes with sufficient political capital to be elected were nobles and industrialists. In the district level, there were zemstvos, in which peasant delegates were democratically elected. Extending the mechanism of zemstvo to the governorate level would attract opposition, but not too radical as to attract revolution.

The Russian Empire, as of now, is only starting the building blocks of the reforms. The Russian Empire had all the resources for becoming a modern European country, which was only limited by the autocratic system. The backwardness of Russia was more systemic and by changing the system the reforms would gradually be accepted.

It can be debated whether my statement of temporary neutrality is binding, or whether I can end it right now.

However, I support you claiming Ethiopia over the Ottomans. 

One problem I can see however: have you considered that just 4, FOUR, years ago your invasion force was decisively defeated in the Italo-Ethiopian war?

-25,000 Italians attacked Ethiopia, defended by 196,000 men, of whom only half used guns. -15,000 Italians died at the cost of only 17,000 Eithopians. 


This is all ignoring the hard fought Second Italo-Ethiopian war in the 1930s. 500,000 Italians fought 800,000 Ethiopians. 208,000 Italians were injured, while injuring 775,000 Imperials. 


In conclusion, you are going back to war pretty quick. Still, I can't say that Ottoman has much better chances, so why not.

Depends. Are they both Pre-Dreadnaught? 

If so, you can tell me in PM which is the Raw Deal. 

Thank you for the offer President. I should renege my previous comment but let him see my deliberations. 

I wasn't planning to go to war THIS year but if I have to do it right now in order to get Ethiopia before the Ottomans does, very well...

But it is certainly undue pressure brought on by the Ottomans' inconsiderate behavior. Italy deplores the attempt to flank Egypt from the two sides or the attempt to divide Italy's two colonies!

I'm also planning to look up on whoever had led the ill-fated war on the Ethiopians and fire him if he's still in office 4 years now.