Ottoman Diplomats

Synopsis

Etienne Carathéodory Effendi informs Safvet Pacha about his audience with King Leopold II of Belgium on October 13th. He describes the great splendour that accompanied the audience. The King’s aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-General Baron Goffinet, escorted him to and from the royal palace. When he reached the palace, the people showed their sympathy. Carathéodory mentions the important men who greeted him (Grand Marshal Count Van der Straten Ponthoz and aide-de-camp Lieutenant-General Frison). This time, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Count d’Aspremont Lynden himself (wearing his Medjidie decoration) introduced Carathéodory in the audience room, conform to the etiquette. The King, who was accompanied by his dignitaries, wore his uniform of a general, with his Ottoman decorations (such as the Osmanieh decoration). Carathéodory gave the letters of Sultan Abdülhamid II to Leopold II. In attachment is the speech he pronounced on this occasion. In response, the King conveyed his wishes for the Sultan’s prosperity and good luck. He also stressed the importance he attached to the good relations between Belgium and the Ottoman Empire. He was very flattering towards Carathéodory. The latter noted that the Sultan would be very grateful for the King’s expressions of sympathy, that would be reciprocated by the Sultan. Carathéodory also conveyed the gratitude of the Ottoman legation for the willingness of the Belgian Minister of War to put the models of the Belgian army uniforms at their disposal. Leopold II seemed genuinely interested in news about the Sultan. Carathéodory mentioned that the Sultan’s health was fine, but he then expressed his hope that the Empire’s political concerns would make space for moderation and equity, sentiments shown by Europe towards the Ottoman Empire. To this the King replied by expressing his wish for appeasement, necessary for the general peace. Carathéodory attached a lot of importance to the King’s handshake, which was not conform to the official etiquette and therefore meaningful. After a conversation of half an hour, the Queen received Carathéodory and his wife. Carathéodory notes that also his entourage was received very gracefully.

Attachments

Speech draft (date unknown, Brussels, Carathéodory Effendi to King Leopold II of Belgium, Speech of Carathéodory, accompanying the letters of the new Sultan, Abdülhamit II, to Leopold II at an official audience in the King's palace in Brussels.)

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