Ottoman Diplomats

Synopsis

Diran Bey informs Safvet Effendi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, about the political situation in Europe. The events and alliances he describes explain the context of the future Austro-Prussian war. He reports that the small German countries had made a conspiracy attempt with Austria against Prussian politics. Diran Bey regrets the failure of the conspiracy, which was meant to make Austria join the confederation as a counterpart of Prussia. This case had been discussed at the assembly of the German princes. According to Diran Bey, the loyal attitude of the Prince Regent confused the conspiracy and wiped away the rancour. The members of the assembly seemed to have agreed on the most important goal: defending the banks of the Rhine. The princes’ original demand for guarantees for peace cannot be perceived in the documents anymore. Furthermore, Austria seemed to feel threatened by the annexationist aspirations in Italy. Diran Bey predicts that, one day, Italy would be united. Moreover, he writes that he knows from good sources that Victor-Emmanuel was glad with the annexation movement in Italy. Yet, according to Diran Bey, he would not have been able to stop it if he wanted to.

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