Memorandum for the Sultan - 1904

[Borys]

February 27, 1904
Topkapi Palace


Sultan!

Under your administration, we, the Divan, can be more open and truthful than under the late Abdulhamid. This, then, is the situation, of which you are aware: The Empire has long been crumbling. Cairo is lost, the Habsburgs have edged through Europe, and the Germans rest in Kuwait.

This crumbling is a process that can be reversed.

Since the time of Selim I, the Sublime State has held the Caliphate and is thus a great state founded on religion. However, because those who founded the state before that were Turks, in reality it is a Turkish state. And since it was the House of Osman that constituted the state, this means that the Sublime State rests on four principles. That is to say, the ruler is Ottoman, the government is Turkish, the religion is Islam, and the capital is Istanbul. If any of these four principles were to be weakened, this would mean a weakening of one of the four pillars of the state structure.

This is how the Ottoman State has persevered. But these pillars are no longer sufficient. Some must be replaced, others must be strengthened. Our nation has experienced a great increase in population, and these peoples are becoming more aware of their own place in our society. Not all Ottoman citizens are followers of Islam, nor are all citizens Turkish. Nationalistic fervor and appeals for democracy must be harnessed in favor of the State before it tears us apart. The formation of the parliament is a great step towards this, as is the acceptance of Christians and Jews into the Government.

Some people of conservative bent argue that it is not advisable to employ Christians in important positions. This is the greatest of errors. Ever since the Abbasid Caliphate, in commerical and financial matters, Christians were employed. The very founder of the Ottoman State, Osman Gazi, was accompanied by his comrade in arms, Mihal Bey, and history is unclear about whether Mihal ever converted to Islam.

In any case, the Sublime State finds itself stuck among Christian states. Indeed, it has been a true member of the European family of states for some fifty years, and yet in the eyes of Christian Europe, we are a thorn in their side, our demise expected at any moment, while we stubbornly refuse to die. Unfortunately, even if our materal and diplomatic resources were unlimited, we would still be obliged to seek the aid of some of the Great Powers... however, all aid among states is based upon mutual suspicion and calculated interest..

(The memorandum continues with several pages assessing the relationships between and the strengths of the DKB, the Habsburgs, Russia, France, Cairo, Persia, and South Africa, and possible actions to take in the future.)

... of course, the military remains as the ultimate guarantor of Memalik-i Mahrusa ("The Well Protected Domains"). As per your request, the Army and Navy Viziers, as well as the Agha of the Janissaries, have submitted an abbreviated report, attached here.

====

THE ARMY

Sultan!

The strength of the Army is as great as it has ever been. Under your reforms of the past four years, we have opened our recruitment to Christians and Jews, begun producing our own larger artillery pieces, instituted a massive fortification project along our borders, and increased strategic planning and tactical innovations. We have increased production of native weapons, including the 15mm Berkefsan ("Lightning Spreader") machine gun. Your railroad expansion projects have increased the army's mobility. Several new technical schools have been opened, as well.

It is a watershed moment for us. The Army, I believe, is now on even footing with most of the European powers. However, we are surrounded by potential enemies, and we are widely stretched, covering five and a half million kilometers of territory. The continued growth and strengthening of the Army will be essential in the future, as I am certain you know. We cannot allow ourselves to fall behind once more.

(The Army Vizier's report continues with detailed dispositions and future plans for exercises and expansion.)

Padashahim çok yasha!
Mahmut Turgut
Army Vizier

====

THE NAVY

Sultan!

The Navy continues its slow and steady growth. As our funding is not so great as that given to the Army, we have continued to focus on modernization of logistics, internal structure, and organization. Our newly built warships are mainly intended for defensive warfare - short range torpedo boats, minelayers, monitors, etc, with a central "battle fleet" in Istanbul based around our great battleships, Turgut Reis and Hayreddin Barbarossa.

In the short term, we will continue to build up our naval infrastructure. Larger torpedo boats are planned for the future, as are further minelayers, motorboats, harbour service and salvage vessels, transports, and other auxilliaries. (Our mines, I might mention, are among the finest and most powerful in the world.)

Once this underlying infrastructure has been rebuilt and modernized to our satisfaction, we may return to building larger fleet units. The Russians continue to heavily outnumber us in battleships and cruisers in the Black Sea, while the Mediterranean is a confused environment, to say the least. Preliminary designs for future battleships are being worked on.

(The Navy Vizier's report continues with detailed dispositions and future plans for exercises and expansion.)

Padashahim çok yasha!
Köprülü Hadi Pasha
Navy Vizier

====

To conclude: the Ottoman Empire is the only Muslim world empire. We have in fact succeeded in joining the modern community of nations, albeit as a grudgingly accepted poor relation. Our military strength is mostly adequate. The real threat to the Sublime Porte is internal dissent and nationalism. The reforms that you, our Sultan, have initiated, have begun to subdue these forces. We must continue along this path of internal restructuring and political liberalization, unless we wish to be completely left behind by the other Great Powers.

Padashahim çok yasha!
Küçük Vefik Pasha
Grand Vizier
   
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The Rock Doctor    
Posted: Dec 7 2006, 10:39 PM


Hegemon
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Nice job on that report.

I'd complain about Gran Colombia not being mentioned at all, but really, France is giving me all the attention I need just now.
   
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Alikchi    
Posted: Dec 7 2006, 10:42 PM


The Sultan
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QUOTE (The Rock Doctor @ Dec 7 2006, 10:39 PM)
Nice job on that report.

I'd complain about Gran Colombia not being mentioned at all, but really, France is giving me all the attention I need just now.

Thanks. A fair amount of the introduction is actually part of a memorandum written by Said Pasha for Abdulhamid II.

Gran Columbia is too far away at the moment.. although the Ottomans both admire and are slightly frightened by the way GC exerts power over its citizenry.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Dec 7 2006, 10:42 PM


King of Rohan
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I'd maintain that the "New World" is not the concern of the Sultan, for those with domains far older than the Prophet, or any of the Prophets, maintains its own in that far off land.
   
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Alikchi    
Posted: Dec 7 2006, 10:45 PM


The Sultan
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QUOTE (Ithekro @ Dec 7 2006, 10:42 PM)
I'd maintain that the "New World" is not the concern of the Sultan, for those with domains far older than the Prophet, or any of the Prophets, maintains its own in that far off land.

Generally true, although the Ottomans, being surrounded by possible enemies, may have to look far for allies.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 7 2006, 11:39 PM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Ahoj!
I disagree with the Turkish pillar. But it's your Turkey.
Borys
   
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Alikchi    
Posted: Dec 7 2006, 11:47 PM


The Sultan
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QUOTE (Borys @ Dec 7 2006, 11:39 PM)
Ahoj!
I disagree with the Turkish pillar. But it's your Turkey.
Borys

You mean all the pillars, or the idea that the Ottoman empire is a Turkish nation?

If it's the latter, I agree with you, as does the Grand Vizier. The idea of the Ottoman Empire as a "Turkish nation" is in the process of being destroyed.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 12:08 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Ahoj!
The real life Ottoman Empire was never "Turkish".
Turk = country bumpkin from Anatolia.
It was Ottoman and Islamic all right.
Not sure about Istambul, I don't know enough.

Turkishness was invented and imposed by Ataturk, with a conscious break with the past - imagine Al Gore or some other looney banning all words of Greek origin in English. Two or three generations of Turks could not understand books written before 1922, because they they didn't know the key words used in them.

Borys
   
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Alikchi    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 12:16 AM


The Sultan
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The pillar you're talking about is part of a quote from a memorandum Said Pasha wrote for Abdulhamid II. Possibly the translation is off and he meant to say "Ottoman" instead of Turk.
   
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Borys    
Posted: Dec 8 2006, 12:33 AM


Kaiser und Koenig Stefan
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Ahoj!
This is possible. These two terms are used interchangeably. Which is incorrect. Or at least the Pasha drummed that belief into me smile.gif

Borys