Treaty of Saint-Germain
The Austrian Representative signs the Treaty of Saint-Germain, officially dissolving the Austro-Hungarian Empire and imposing severe territorial and military restrictions on Austria, under the watchfu
Setting
The Hall of Mirrors in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a grand and ornate room with high ceilings and large windows overlooking the gardens. The room is filled with diplomats, officials, and military personnel.
Characters
French Chief Diplomat
primary
A tall, imposing man in his late 50s with a sharp, angular face, deep-set piercing blue eyes, and a neatly trimmed silver mustache. His posture exudes authority, and his hands bear the ink stains of recent document handling. A faint scar runs along his left temple, a remnant of earlier conflicts.
Austrian Representative
primary
A tall, gaunt man in his late 50s with a sharp, angular face and deep-set eyes. His greying hair is parted neatly to the side, and he sports a meticulously trimmed mustache. His posture carries the weight of defeat, yet his gaze remains piercing and intelligent.
British Observer
secondary
A middle-aged man with a lean, composed build, sporting a neatly trimmed mustache and short, combed-back dark brown hair. His sharp blue eyes observe the proceedings with calculated precision, and his posture exudes an air of quiet authority.
Austrian Aide
secondary
A young man in his late 20s, slender build with sharp features, clean-shaven with neatly combed dark brown hair. His pale complexion suggests long hours indoors, and his wire-rimmed spectacles perch precariously on his nose as he frequently adjusts them.
French Guard
background
A tall, broad-shouldered man in his late 20s with a clean-shaven face and sharp military bearing. His dark brown hair is neatly trimmed beneath his peaked cap, and his piercing blue eyes scan the room with disciplined alertness. His posture is ramrod straight, with shoulders squared and hands clasped behind his back.
Dialog
French Chief Diplomat
As Article IX clearly states, Austria renounces all claims to Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. This is non-negotiable, n'est-ce pas?
Austrian Representative
We are... acutely aware of the terms. Yet history shall judge whether such severance of ancient ties was justice or vengeance.
British Observer
One might consider whether Article XII's military restrictions could inadvertently destabilize the Danube basin rather than secure it.
French Chief Diplomat
Stability, monsieur, is precisely what these provisions ensure. The lessons of 1914 are not so easily forgotten.
Austrian Representative
Then let it be done.