Page 626 - Mastermind: The Truth of the British Deep State Revealed

The first debate in the Ottoman Cabinet on the abolishment of the capit-

ulations took place on September 2, 1914, which resulted in the decision to
draw up a memorandum to do away with these concessions.

As a result, a commission led by Nazır Pirizade İbrahim Bey was set up in
the Ministry of Justice. The Commission drafted the official communication
427
to be sent to the Grand Vizier on September 4, and sent it the next day. The
government, during the meeting of the Council of Ministers on September 5,

decided to abolish all capitulations, economical and judicial alike.

On September 8, the government reconvened, read the official commu-
nication and decided that the approved text be sent to the ambassadors in the

capital on September 9. The Sultan approved the abolishment of the capitula-
tions on September 8. The text read as follows:

Upon the agreement of the Parliament Members, various financial, adminis-
trative, economical and judicial concessions and all privileges, previously grant-
ed to foreigners residing at the Ottoman Empire, known as the 'capitula-

tions', as well as their associated permits and privileges are hereby abolished.
This resolution, upon the orders of the Sultan, will come into effect on Sep-
tember 18, 1330 [October 1, 1914 in the Gregorian calendar]. 428

Capitulations Need to Be Abolished for Full Independence

The decision of the Ottoman administration to unilaterally abolish the ca-

pitulations was a rational, albeit a delayed one. Almost two months prior to
the decision, world war had broken out in Europe and could have spread to

the Ottoman territory at any moment. The states that had been given capitu-
lations previously were too busy to object to the decision. Indeed, the decla-

ration to eliminate capitulations received joyous welcome from the vast ma-
jority of the Ottoman Empire. The Empire was finally getting rid of this heavy

burden on its shoulders.

Even though European ambassadors particularly raised objections to the

abrogation of the capitulations, the Ottoman Empire didn't back down. Of
course, certain new regulations were made in line with the requests of the am-

bassadors, but they were not like the capitulations. This was an important

Mastermind: The Truth of the British Deep State Revealed