Posthumous Memoirs of Talaat Pasha/Why Turkey favored Germany

When England turned her back to the Porte, Germany was courting Turkey to secure her sympathy. During the Balkan War Germany had not failed to flatter the national feeling of the Turks, while the o^her nations had only insulted it. When we addressed the Ambassadors to ask their help against the Russian demand, they all advised us to submit to the Russian desires, except the German Ambassador, who encouraged us in our project and promised us his help. Although the negotiation at London failed, we continued our political activities, and, with the moral aid of Germany, we were able to divert the move of the Russian note and to put it among the problems of the general reform program. But this incident, which was followed by others, gave a new impetus to the pro-German feeling among the members of the Cabinet. After the Balkan War, the political balance of the Balkans being broken in a way unfavorable to Turkey, we advocated an alliance with one of the European groups to offset this disadvantage. The amiable attitude of Germany encouraged us, and during the diplomatic conversations in regard to the eastern provinces we suggested to the German Ambassador at Constantinople that we were ready to make an alliance with Germany. The German Ambassador received this suggestion favorably, and asked instructions from Berlin. The German Government, however, did not appear enthusiastic about it, and in its answer expressed the belief that Turkey was too weak to make an alliance with Germany; that an alliance might be useful only if contracted at a propitious time, and that for the moment the time was not ripe for such a union. All our endeavors to find an ally failed because of this fact. The European powers wished a strong and powerful ally to help them. In the Summer of 1914, however, Germany, to our surprise, revived our old suggestion and proposed to consider it anew. As no change had occurred in our foreign policy in the interval, there was no reason for refusing this proposal, which we had initiated some time before. Consequently we accepted the discussion of the problem, and in some consecutive meetings with the German Ambassador we prepared a project of alliance. Both parties easily fell into accord regarding the guiding principles and signed an agreement which would form the main lines of a political and military alliance between Germany and Turkey. Immediately after the signature of this document the incidents followed which ended in the World War. When we signed the agreement there was no prospect of war. Immediately after the signature of this document the incidents followed which ended in the World War. When we signed the agreement there was no prospect of war. Bui. after it was signed the assassination of the Austrian Prince and the hostilities between Austria and Serbia suddenly proved ominous. We realized that the change in the attitude of Germany in seeking our co-operatijn was due to a forecast of future events; but we thought that, even so, this alliance would be still to the benefit of Turkey, because none of the European powers would admit us into their circle without hope of gaining material benefit.