the beginnings of ottoman-german partnership - Bilkent University

CHAPTER FOUR:
FROM THE ALLIANCE TREATY TO THE
DECLARATION OF HOLY WAR
A. Developments Until The Arrival of The Goeben And Breslau
Ernest Jackh, in his study, The Rising Crescent, published many of the telegrams
exchanged between Berlin and its emissaries in Istanbul during the month that
preceded conclusion of the Ottoman-German alliance, between July 14 and August 5,
1914. These telegrams show how Germany's attitude toward an Ottoman alliance
changed substantially during just twenty days. They also give many hints about the
situation in Istanbul, and how the Ottoman government responded to the emerging
threat of war in Europe.
What we lack for the most part are the Ottoman sources. The few that have
come to us consist of memoirs left by the leading generals and cabinet members
which, while useful, consist only of what their authors wanted us to know about their
thoughts and actions. Since real power in the Ottoman government was in the hands
of Enver and Talat, they did not exchange views with the Ottoman ambassador in
Berlin, Mahmut Muhtar Pasa, nor was there any sort of formal decision-making
process including other members of the cabinet. There are some letters surviving
from Cemil Bey, Ottoman military attaché in Berlin, written to colleagues and friends
in Istanbul, which shed some light on Istanbul's supreme ignorance about affairs and
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