Asbeau: Thanks very much Dischord, I'm downloading it now and really looking forward to it. I shall be raising my goblet to you as I play :)
(As for that debt - it might be the straw that breaks the camel's back that finally leads to us leaving Europe, and depending on who you believe that will either result in us becoming a forgotten backwater or free us from the yoke of Euro-tyranny and restore our former glory. Turbulent and interesting times are ahead either way!)
You're welcome, and raising a drink back!
As for the other, I'm not a principal, so I really can't say. The UK will never be a forgotten backwater though, as there has been no country to do more for the world than her.
Everyone likes to speak of "dirty colonialism," but with that tiny payment she extracted at the time, she bestowed a framework of law and administration which has brought her former colonies the ability to stand on their own, and effectively take care of themselves; my nation included.
As for the economic situation, your nation will honour her commitment as she agreed to, no doubt, but every reason to question the methodology of determining the size and cost of the "hidden" economy. Who can really ascertain its size, and thus your liability? To be sure, a standard method needs to be applied to all members, otherwise levies made upon this factor will always be suspect; by one and all.
NOTE: The thread can expect a game code posted, to atone for my lengthy reply!
To add: Greece, Rome, and all of Europe contributed, as did interactions with Asia, but it was England who brought this accumulation of knowledge to many of us. She brought us the benefit of knowledge from everywhere, when we could go nowhere ourselves.
TOTAL ANNIHILATION: COMMANDER PACK: (last group 1st, 1st group last)
Edit to remove code.