The recent happenings in Europe have been most worrying, foremost among them the terrible occurrence in Britain. While what happened was indeed most saddening, to see a once truly noble woman so racked by misery and grief as to descend into madness. As a constitutional monarch who now feels the limits of his powers, who has recently lost a dear friend and brother, the late Sultan Abdulmecid I, one of the architects of the history-changing Treaty of Constantinople, I can only feel pity and sadness for Queen Victoria. One must not blame a human being for what they do while their mind is gone, but remember them for the beautiful, kind and humane person they were before the madness took them. We hope that the situation in Britain will soon amend itself, and though we grieve for the loss of one of the oldest and greatest royal families in the world, we hope that the new republic will emerge more powerful, efficient and just than its predecessor.
Europe, having experienced now nearly two years of horrific events – indeed, while no European blood has been shed, we have all been scarred and traumatised by these late events – must now seek to recreate itself. The Treaty of Constantinople, I can confidently say, despite its many defects, has put an end to war in Europe, for just as the criminal does not commit crime for the fear of punishment, so too does Europe now not commit the greatest of all crimes, war, for fear of punishment, not only military punishment from other nations, but economic punishment due to the disturbance of trade, social punishment due to Europeans no longer accepting wars and actively calling their nation to account when at war and finally, political punishment, as those who engage in warfare can no longer be trusted when it comes to treaties and agreements, and will become pariahs in Europe, unwelcome in all nations and shunned by all who endeavour for peace and prosperity on the Old Continent.
Within my power as a constitutional monarch, I wish to see a Europe where no single nation is slave to another. We here in Europe are all equal, and our ties must show this equality and respect we have for each other. I urge the Senate and General Assembly to be present at the Conference of Turin, and urge all European powers to be present there, and not leave it too late, as many unfortunate nations did with the Conference of Constantinople. May the Democratic Ottoman Empire prosper, may Europe prosper and this world prosper.
His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, Sultan Abdülaziz Khan I, by the Might and Will of the Almighty, Emperor of the Ottomans, Sovereign of the House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khan of Khans, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, Custodian of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, Emperor of Rome and many other countries and cities.
Prime Minister’s First Address to the Meclis-i Umumi (General Assembly) of the Ottoman EmpireAnd for them who are patient and who endure is indeed a most worthy reward. And today, we, who have been patient and have endured years of impossible reforms and calls for change, today witness a great miracle, democracy where once there was none! At last, we have returned to the era of those distant, glorious Rashidun Caliphs, democracy has returned to the Caliphate, or should I say, the Caliphate has returned to the democracy just as a straying child must eventually return to its guide and parent.
Today, I see before me Muslims, Christians and Jews, I see Serbs and Turks, Armenians and Arabs, Kurds and Circassians. All are here! All are represented, all have been chosen and elected, by the people, for the people, in the name of the Almighty and with his permission. All, despite our differences and conflicting views, are proudly Ottoman! Whether Turk we be or Serb, Arab or Kurd, Muslim or Christian, we can all say with pride and restored dignity and honour, I am Ottoman, and I have a voice!
As we enter this new era of democracy and true Islamic rule – which gives rights and freedoms to all people, regardless their ethnicity, affiliations and creed – we must think on our relationships with other nations, especially those in Europe. Our wise Sultan and Caliph has spoken words most true in his latest address: we in Europe are all equal. Thus, after the insistence of our Serbian members on the matter of Serbian autonomy and sovereignty, we have decided that on this first convention of the Meclis-I Umumi, we must decide once and for all the status of our two European vassals, Serbia and Romania. Recent tensions in Serbia have meant that if we do not act now there could be violence, which is the worst way for our great democracy to begin. As we must consider the independence of Serbia, we cannot ignore the Romanian Problem and therefore put both issues to the vote.
As for the Conference of Turin proposed by the Kingdom of Italy, we feel we must rectify the lack of communication which meant that the Conference of Constantinople went ahead without many nations which would have liked to be present, we shall therefore send a representative to Turin once the Conference has been confirmed.
Due to our new policy towards vassal nations, we must also seek to put an end to the vassalisation of Tunisia and Egypt, both which are currently semi-autonomous vassals. In the Democratic Ottoman Empire, these integral Muslim lands will be fully represented and therefore there is no longer a need for Beys and Khedives to despotically rule the land of the Ottoman Empire. I therefore propose to the Assembly that we formally end the vassalisation of Tunisia and Egypt and unify the Empire’s North African holdings once more, that democracy may reign supreme all over the Empire.
Meclis-i Mebusân (lower house, Chamber of Deputies) passes Independence of Serbia Resolution, 149 - 37
Meclis-i Âyân (upper house, Senate) ratifies Independence of Serbia Resolution, 89 – 11
Meclis-i Mebusân passes Independence of Romania Resolution, 123 - 63
Meclis-i Âyân ratifies independence of Romania Resolution, 78 - 22
Meclis-i Mebusân passes De-Vassalisation of North African Provinces Resolution, 180 - 6
Meclis-i Âyân passes De-Vassalisation of North African Provinces Resolution 97 - 3
His Highness, Grand Vizier Mehmed Fuad Pasha, Prime Minister of the Ottoman Empire
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