Posthumous Memoirs of Talaat Pasha/Trying to avoid war

Some months later we were facing the World War. Our position was exceedingly delicate. By the alliance recently concluded, we were engaged on the side of one of the combatants. The German and Austrian Ambassadors visited us every day, insisting upon our immediate entry into the war on their side. Every day we were pressed to answer such questions as these: " When will you join us? When will you show your good will by fulfilling the terms of your agreement ? " &c. The answer to these questions was simple. We could have said: " Italy, although one of the allied members, has not yet joined the Central Powers ; though the neutrality of Belgium has been assured by international treaties, Germany herself has not respected her own signature." But such an answer would have been equivalent to the denial of the alliance, which we had sought so anxiously and esteemed so highly. Moreover, such an attitude would have shown the world our faithlessness to our agreement, and would have ended the confidence of the civilized world in our word. Consequently we preferred to make a more diplomatic reply to the Germans' insistence. We told them that Turkey was faithful to her word; that she would gladly act as soon as necessity showed the need of her help; that as Russia was the most inveterate and menacing enemy of Turkey, it was not only a moral obligation for Turkey to ally herself with Germany in the war, but a necessity proved by historical facts; that it was useless and even dangerous, both for Turkey and for her allies, for us to join the Central Powers without knowing what would be the attitude of Bulgaria, who by various pacts was closely tied to Russia. " After the Balkan War," we further explained, " our European frontier was modified in such a way that Constantinople was rendered defenseless before a serious attack of the Bulgarian Army. If Bulgaria joins the Allies against Turkey, our capital will be exposed to a danger which neither Germany nor the Turkish Army can prevent. Therefore, it will be an unsafe adventure for Turkey to enter the war, unless Bulgaria decisively defines her position. It is possible to win the help of Bulgaria, as there is a hostile feeling among the Bulgarians against Serbia. If Germany can induce Bulgaria to go against the Serbs, Turkey will be glad to fulfill her engagement." This ambiguous and yet apparently logical and skillfully prepared answer saved our position for a long time. Delaying our entry into the war, we could follow the military operations at the fronts and the political changes which occurred in Europe and in the Balkans.