I too always wondered about this. However, Boris was involved with Borduria in "King Ottokar Sceptre". Maybe, it could be Borduria

As the Kings aide in "King Ottocars Sceptre" Boris was responsible for the kings personal security. With him involved in the bordurian conspiracy to overthrowe the king and annexing Syldivia, it is not improbable to se him working for Borduria in the future as head of counter-espionage / industrial espionage or some other kind of clandestine operation. It is implied that Boris took that mission in the moon-adventure on personal request just because Tintin was in it.

Harrock n roll
I spotted one clue on page 30 of Destination Moon, bottom left frame where it says "meanwhile, many thousands of miles away". This would infer that they were not operating from Borduria (being a neighbouring country) and were perhaps not even in Europe

I quite agree with this.

As the same frame shows a single clock with a time that matches with the local Syldavian time (p.31), and as Syldavia lies about 20 degrees East, the 'saboteurs' could well be situated along the opposite longitude, i.e. 160 degrees West, where Australasian i.e. Malayo-Polynesian languages are spoken, in age-old 'Indian' colonies, 12 thousand miles away...

This would match with:
- the Pacific Ocean zone shown top left on the cover to Explorers of the Moon...
- the Thompsons' 'fault' when they mix up P.M. & A.M. time (same album)...
- Prof.Paul Cantonneau's interests, namely astronomy & 'Indians'...

(please see related threads)

SUrely he would have set his watch when he entered Syldavia?

Rik

jockosjungle
SUrely he would have set his watch when he entered Syldavia?

Yes, from A.M. to P.M., or vice-versa, but the digits on his watch would have remained identical!

--
[Post edited by Admin. Removed off-topic remark.]

Did anyone else find it inappropriate that Herge was shown amongst the saboteurs in the cartoon? Talk about seeming to support the 'Herge was a collaborator' myth...

Maybe the saboteurs were Bordurian, but they took action thousands of miles from the home country to make them look less apparent and to expand Borduria's influence abroad. Both the US and the USSR were involved in many activities hundreds of miles from its home territories. Can't rule out the Bodurians, who have already employed Boris once...

The only country that's not really been mentioned here but who's history and customs really fit the time and storyline of Syldavia is: Hungary.

King Ottokar's Sceptre. In Hungary (which was a Monarchy until 1946)the power of the Sovereign, technically, by law, came from the acual Crown itself. If the Crown is taken then the King would have lost his power. Similar to that of King Ottokar's Sceptre.

Destination Moon. During the inter-war period and after, Hungarian scientists were among the most prominent in nuclear science. At first the USSR, trying to impose communism in eastern europe, hounded the scientists out of Hungary and the Americans snapped them up. However, scientists in Hungary continued to be at the forefront of nuclear physics.

Hungary was idefacto/i an independent monarchy with a regent (Admiral Horthy) until 1946. Thereafter, it became a communist country, however, it followed it's own path despite the USSR's constant threat (similar to Syldavia's threat from the Bordurian regime.

I know that Herge intimated that Syldavia was based on Albania, but they did not really interest the USSR and their political tie at that time was at first to Yugoslavia and then Maoist China.

Maybe I'm getting carried away, but the History certainly fits and Herge was certainly "on the ball" with current affairs.