The following is a letter published in the Mar/Apr 1975 issue of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands' local newsletter, The Althing. It was written in response to the Barony's request to form a principality. I thought it would be of interest to us.

To the People of the Barony March of the Debatable Lands Greetings

At Our recent Curia we were asked to give in writing Our opinions on the subject of Principality status for your Barony. They are as follows.

To the best of Our knowledge, you do not currently meet the population requirements for a principality, but We have no doubt that you soon will; That is not a serious difficulty. There are, however, baronies in both the East and Middle Kingdoms which have for years fulfilled that requirement, yet neither they nor the Crown have seen any good reason to convert them into principalities. Indeed there exist no principalities in either kingdom. Existing principalities in Atenveldt and the West are either groups of baronies intending to become kingdoms (Caid and An Tir) or the central areas of their respective kingdoms (Principality of Atenveldt, Principality of the Mists).

The primary argument We have heard for Principality status is that the Barony March runs its own affairs and neither is not intends to be directed from the center of the kingdom. That is true. It is true of all Our baronies. One of the distinctive features of the East Kingdom, to which We think its prosperity in large part due, is a feudal rather than a centralist structure. Kingdom officers maintain common standards in a few essential areas, such as safety rules and heraldry (which standards, in all kingdoms, apply as much to principality as barony) and otherwise provide communication among the baronies. It has been so in the past, We expect it to continue so. If you wish further guarantees, you might choose to follow the example of Our barony of Carolingia, which has but recently negotiated with the Crown a charter, in which are stated the ancient rights of that barony.

In sum, we see no reason why the Barony Marche, as it now exists, should be a principality.

One thing more. There are at present individuals and groups scattered through (at least) western New York and West Virginia. If some develop, perhaps with your assistance, into substantial groups, and if they wish to unite with you into a principality comprising the western part of Our kingdom, either as a permanent arrangement or with the intent of becoming in time a separate kingdom, that would be entirely appropriate.

We have read the above to Our Tannist, who states that he is in essential agreement with it.

Cariadoc, Rex Orientalis