Good Morning,
Fellow world leaders, I write to you today from my office at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul on a matter of critical importance. Beginning in the spring of 1902 this government undertook a series of negotiations with the high and most honourable representative of La Troisième République Française. These discussions were principally aimed at achieving an agreement with the French state over general strategy but these discussions soon devolved into resolving a question of Mediterranean hegemony.
It is the position of the Ottoman Empire that a French occupation of Tunisia is in no uncertain terms completely unacceptable. Tunisia is nation that demographically is overwhelmingly made up of believers in the Islamic faith. In his role as Caliph of the Faithful it is the sacred duty of his imperial majesty Abdülhamid II to ensure the right of free worship and just governance for all members of the true faith. As the holy Quran states in 2.257, “Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith, the patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness.” Based on both the spirit of our bi-lateral negotiations, and the recent deployment of the French armed forces within the Mediterranean it is obvious to any freethinking observer that such an occupation must be the objective of the French state.
The government of the Ottoman Empire readily admits before the eyes of the world that at times its conduct in these negotiations was not always perfect. This government did however, attempt to sincerely salvage these discussions by offering both a non-aggression pact, and the creation of a demilitarized zone with the ultimate goal of preserving peace in the Mediterranean. It is my unfortunate duty this morning to tell you all that no such undertaking has been agreed to by La Troisième République Française.
Consequently it is my duty to announce as Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire with the full authority of his imperial majesty Sultan Abdülhamid II that effective noon this day, the beginning of spring 1903 that a state of war now exists between the Ottoman Empire and France. I assure you all this decision was not arrived at lightly, ironically it was the great French philosopher Voltaire who once said, “Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.” However, for this nation there is no longer any alternative.
The Grand Vizier
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