the beginnings of ottoman-german partnership - Bilkent University

the Ottoman government renegotiate the Baghdad Railway Concession in return for
the loan. The British Foreign Office informed Cavid Bey that the existing concession
was not in the best interest of the Ottoman Empire and it was a significant menace to
the position of British trade in Mesopotamia. Rejected by the French and British, the
Ottoman government turned to Germany for the loan. On request from the German
government, the Deutsche Bank agreed on a contract for the entire issue of
30,000,000 francs of the Ottoman Four Per Cent Loan of 1910. 88
As Cavid Bey stated in his memorandum, the loan agreement was a great
diplomatic victory for Germany. 89 It was a milestone on the road to a future
Ottoman-German partnership. With this loan agreement, Wilhelm II was proved
right on his foreseeing on the Turkish-German relationship. In late October 1910, in
the message he sent to the Ottoman government, he seemed quite happy with the
developments in Turkey. He especially appreciated the works of Goltz and assured
the Turks that there would be no delays on the loan, which would reach the Ottoman
treasury in November. However, he stated that Turkey should accept the partition of
the sphere of influences in Persia by Great Britain and Russia. 90
German influence was increasing. In February 1910, Marschall von
Bieberstein received a new order of arms in huge amounts from the Ottoman
government. In the same year, the net revenues of the Anatolian Railway Company
reached 5,169,894 French Francs. 91 The German railways proved profitable for the
Germans, and at the same time profiting the Ottomans. The Ottoman Empire was
88
Earle, pp. 224-225, Rathmann, p. 109, Ahmad, p. 16, Kocabaş, p. 130.
89
Earle, p. 225 “On this occasion the Germans handled the business with great intelligence and tact.
They brought up no points which were not related directly or indirectly to the loan, and they made no
conditions which would have been inconsistent with the dignity of Turkey. This attitude of Germany
met with great approval on the part of the Turkish government, which was then in a very difficult
position. The result was the greatest diplomatic victory in the history of the Ottoman Empire between
the revolution of 1908 and the outbreak of the Great War.”
90
BOA, HR. SYS., Dosya:22, Gömlek:42.
91
Rathmann, pp. 111-115.
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