Chapter I: Preface

As the Son of Midhat Pasha I was for fifteen years compelled to reside as an exile in Smyrna, but finding the physical and moral sufferings to which I was there subjected greater than I could endure, I succeeded in quitting the territories of the Sultan, and came to take up my residence in this hospitable land, and among this great and free people.

In the following pages I have endeavoured to carry out a duty which has long been incumbent on me, by letting the public, and especially the English public, know the true story of my father’s career, and of his death.

The record is based mainly on documents and notes left by him. In obedience to requests from high quarters I abstain from publishing certain documents and correspondence which, bearing as they do on International affairs, might be calculated to cause embarrassment and do harm.

It is possible that some of my father’s papers which I have now printed, and which were written in Turkish, may have lost some of their original brightness in the process of translation, but at least, most scrupulous care has been taken to give the sense of them accurately.

There can be no doubt that at the present time Turkey is suffering from a Reign of Terror, and is in a state of anarchy. I hope that the narrative contained in these pages may afford some evidence of the methods by which this condition of affairs has been produced.

My readers will learn how the Sovereign of the Ottoman Empire, in order to carry out his own system of Government, has suppressed every effort for reform, and has removed those men, who by their force of character, by their uprightness, and by their popularity, seemed capable of thwarting his designs, and amending the condition of the country and of the people.

I wish to state here that I have a profound respect for the Imperial Throne, and it is this consideration alone, I repeat it, and the honour of my country, which makes me regard it as a duty to humanity to expose the nefarious system of Sultan Abdul Hamid.

In conclusion, I would beg to offer my thanks to the Proprietors of the _Times_ newspaper for giving me permission to reprint the excellent report of my father’s trial which appeared in their columns.

ALI HAYDAR MIDHAT.

EASTBOURNE, _August 6, 1903_.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

EARLY HISTORY OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Page

Christians in Turkey—Turkish treatment of Subject
Races—Corruptions of the Ottoman System—Persistent policy of
Russia—Panslavic Committees—The Palace and the Porte—Growth
of Autocracy—The Janissaries—Revolt of Mehemet Ali—Reforms
of Abdul Medjid—The Czar Nicholas—Origins of the Crimean
War—The Crimean War—Attitude of France—Attitude of Austria 1–31

CHAPTER II

MIDHAT’S EARLY YEARS

Midhat in the Balkan Provinces—Governorship of Nish,
etc.—Widdin and Silistria—Midhat’s Success in Danube
Provinces—Intrigues of General Ignatieff—Insurrection
stirred up—Organisation of local Militia—Appointed Vali
of Bagdad—Fighting and Reforms—Finance and Engineering
Work—Bussora—Koweit, the Nedjed—The Conquest of
Nedjed—Defeat of Abdul Kerim—Aali Pasha—Extravagance of
Abdul Aziz—Midhat as Grand Vizier 32–66

CHAPTER III

DEPOSITION AND DEATH OF ABDUL AZIZ

Troubles in Herzegovina—Riots at Salonica—Outbreak
in Bulgaria—Meeting at Reichstadt—The Andrassy
Memorandum—The Sultan opposes Reform—Deposition of Abdul
Aziz—Preparations for the _Coup d’État_—Sultan Murad—Death
of Abdul Aziz—Breakdown of Sultan Murad—Damad Mahmoud’s
Conspiracy—Prince Hamid—Deposition of Murad 67–99

CHAPTER IV

ABDUL HAMID SULTAN

Abdul Hamid II.—The Imperial Household—The Speech from the
Throne—Nominal Reforms—Midhat’s Difficulties—Nominal and
Real Reforms—The New Constitution—Sovereign Rights 100–115

CHAPTER V

SECOND GRAND VIZIERATE OF MIDHAT PASHA

Opposition Intrigues—“Midhat’s Constitution”—Intrigues
against Midhat—Zia Bey—The Press—Promulgation of the
Constitution—Rescript of Abdul Hamid—Favourable Reception of
the Constitution 116–131

CHAPTER VI

THE CONFERENCE AND MIDHAT’S EXILE

Conference at Constantinople—General Ignatieff’s Conduct—The
New Constitution and the Powers—Galib Pasha and the
Finances—Mixed Schools—Protest of Midhat—Midhat Exiled—The
Sultan’s Precautions—Prince Gortchakoff and General
Ignatieff—Russian Declaration—Prince Gortchakoff’s Circular 132–154

CHAPTER VII

MIDHAT PASHA IN EUROPE

The Sultan’s Speech—Russia Declares War—Midhat in
Naples—Midhat’s Efforts for Peace—Midhat’s Recall by the
Sultan—Midhat and Kiamil Bey 155–171

CHAPTER VIII

THE RETURN OF MIDHAT PASHA TO TURKEY

Midhat in Crete—Appointed Governor of Syria 172–175

CHAPTER IX

MIDHAT PASHA, GOVERNOR‐GENERAL OF SYRIA

The Sultan Opposes Reforms—Cause of Midhat’s
Resignation—Condition of Syria—The Druses and the Arabs—The
Turbulent Druses—Troops to be sent—The Druses—Resignation
of Midhat—The Palace and Judicial Reforms—Midhat and Syria 176–195

CHAPTER X

MIDHAT, GOVERNOR‐GENERAL OF SMYRNA

Abdul Aziz’ Death—The _Terdjumani Hakikat_—Attack on
Midhat—Attitude of the French Consul—Midhat’s Arrest 196–206

CHAPTER XI

THE TRIAL OF MIDHAT PASHA

Mustapha the Wrestler—The Case for the Defence—Midhat’s
Defence—A Parody of Justice—The Public Prosecutor—Before
the Court of Appeal—Grand Council—The British
Parliament—Questions in Parliament—Mr M’Coan—Mr
Gladstone—Lord Stratheden and Campbell—England’s
Intervention 207–233

CHAPTER XII

EXILE OF MIDHAT PASHA

Midhat in Prison—Attempt to Poison Midhat—Arrest of Shereef
Abdul Mutalib—Haïroullah Effendi 234–241

CHAPTER XIII

DETAILS OF THE ASSASSINATION OF MIDHAT PASHA, ACCORDING
TO INFORMATION DERIVED FROM HAÏROULLAH EFFENDI

Return of Bekir—Midhat and Bekir—Tampering with
Food—Attempts to Poison—Preparations for the Murder—The
Murder 242–256

APPENDIX A

THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE BERLIN NOTE AND THE
CONFERENCE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Negotiations following the Berlin Note—The Conference at
Reichstadt—Servian Diplomacy and Defeat—England Proposes
Terms—An Ultimatum to the Porte—Disagreement among the
Powers 257–270

APPENDIX B

THE INSURRECTION OF HERZEGOVINA AND BOSNIA AND THE
BERLIN NOTE

Herzegovina and Bosnia—Lord Derby and Austria—Intentional
Bad Faith—Austrian Diplomacy—The Berlin Note—Austria and
Russia—Mr Monson’s Despatch 271–284

APPENDIX C

BULGARIAN ATROCITIES

A Bulgarian Insurrection—Revolutionary Agents at
Work—Fictions and Ingenious Credulity 285–292

MIDHAT PASHA