Fredericus von Hamburg, having until now been observing the deliberations quietly, finally stands.

Oh, how I wish we could have just one Diet session where the Austrians didn't spend the entire time complaining about something.

Unlike these Austrians, I recognize that Franconia has little claim to lands in Italy. Our soldiers have in recent years primarily had the task of protecting the north, including the capital where this Diet meets, while the majority of the Reich's armies were engaged in the south. It is not a glorious task, but it is necessary. I only wish some of the other houses *looks at largely empty Austrian section* had more of a sense of duty to the Reich, and put a little less effort in their own self-interest.

But that is enough of that. I have been following the deliberations about Italy very closely, and I am glad that it appears that we will make an effort to avoid excommunication. In the north, we have few troops tasked with defending large areas against many potential enemies. It is best to keep those enemies just that, potential. Still, Poland has made a mistake. It would seem that their frontier is defended very poorly. They certainly have large armies, but they're probably in the east, and there would be a delay until they're recalled.

I am not going to burden the Chancellor with further edicts, I trust he will act logically. To do so would be to strike Poland immediately while they are unprepared, and reinforce for the eventual Polish response.