Major de Custaad,
While visiting with General de Mylcandonai when he received your note
asking about the costs of his proposal. He was sufficiently surprised by
the missive that he showed it to me for my opinion. Obviously, as it is
his proposal, he may respond as he wishes. I was sufficiently struck
however that I am prompted to respond on my own account.
While honorable soldiers may well disagree about the correct approach to
military justice, and even about the degree of authority different parts of
the military may have, asking about the costs seems odd.
The proposal creates no new positions, and therefore no direct costs. One
might argue that the matters to be considered may take time (and therefore
money) from the good men involved. That is true. There are however several
matters:
1) The usage of the time of military men is not a matter for the exchequer
2) One would hope that such matters as are under discussion will come up
but rarely. I would expect that if it were not for recent turmoils we
would not even be considering the matter.
3) If such procedures enhance military discipline and order, the result
will be a stronger military. It is precisely for this reason that input
from senior military officers with experience in such matters is
useful. And also why the final decision on such authority must rest with
the King.
Yours,
Lt. General le Baron Soire de Success, Minister of Integration
At 06:44 PM 7/2/01 +0100, Mark Rogers wrote:
>To: General le Duc Alain de Mylcandonai, Minister of War
>From: Major le Comte Coward de Custaad, Chancellor of the Exchequer
>
>Your Grace,
>
>I have just received a copy of Your Grace's letter from His Majesty's
>personal secretary regarding Military Justice. I should make it clear
>that I have been asked by His Majesty to investigate if Your Grace's
>proposal is financially sound and viable when the present system of
>administration clearly is fully functional and cost effective.
>
>Please can you provide every detail, I would prefer a ledger, of the costs
>involved in implementing Your Grace's proposal as His Majesty has
>requested? I shall require a total breakdown of every expense to Your
>Grace's reckoning of the system Your Grace proposes down to the very last
>crown. Then I can investigate and pass on my own objective recommend to
>His Majesty who it would appear is concerned that Your Grace may
>overstretch the budget and bring added confusion to the present system
>that His Majesty has already shown contentment with.
>
>Although it is not my concern, I thought that with only Your Grace's
>military experience that I may offer some token advice for Your Grace's
>consideration. Perhaps Your Grace ought to discuss this issue with the
>Minister of State in view of the fact that Duc von Fersen may consider
>this approach to be undermining of the Minster of State's power and
>authority; I am led to believe there was some controversy vaguely
>connected to you over a similar issue only quite recently, naturally I do
>not listen to rumours.
>
>I look forward to seeing a copy of your expected accounts for your
>"Military Justice" proposal.
>
>Warmest regards,
>
>- Coward de Custaad.
>
>
>
