ULTIMATUM FROM ITALY TO TURKEY REGARDING TRIPOLI, 28 SEPTEMBER 1911
Throughout a long series of years the Italian Government has never ceased to represent to the Porte the absolute necessity that the state of disorder and neglect in which Tripoli and Cyrenaica are left by Turkey should come to an end, and that these regions should be allowed to enjoy the same progress as that attained by other parts of Northern Africa. This transformation, which is required by the general exigencies of civilization, constitutes, so far as Italy is concerned, a vital interest of the very first order, by reason of the small distance separating these countries from the coasts of Italy.
Notwithstanding the attitude maintained by the Italian Government, which has always loyally accorded its support to the Imperial Government on the different political questions of recent times, notwithstanding the moderation and patience displayed by the Italian Government hitherto, not only have its views in regard to Tripoli been misunderstood by the Imperial Government, but what is more, all enterprises on the part of Italians, in the aforesaid regions, constantly encounter a systematic opposition of the most obstinate and unwarranted kind.
The Imperial Government, which has thus up to now displayed constant hostility towards all legitimate Italian activity in Tripoli and Cyrenaica, quite recently, at the eleventh hour, proposed to the Royal Government to come to an understanding, declaring itself disposed to grant any economic concession compatible with the treaties in force and with the higher dignity and interests of Turks; but the Royal Government does not now feel itself in a position to enter upon such negotiations, the uselessness of which is demonstrated by past experience, and which, far from constituting a guarantee for the future, could but afford a permanent cause of friction and conflict.
On the other hand, information received by the Royal Government from its consular agents in Tripoli and Cyrenaica represents the situation there as extremely dangerous on account of the agitation prevailing against Italian subjects, which is very obviously fomented by officers and other organs of the authorities. This agitation constitutes an imminent danger not only to Italian subjects but also to foreigners of any nationality who, justly perturbed and anxious for their safety, have commenced to embark and are leaving Tripoli without delay. The arrival at Tripoli of Ottoman military transports, the serious consequences of the sending of which the Royal Government had not failed to point out previously to the Ottoman Government, cannot but aggravate the situation and impress on the Royal Government the strict and absolute obligation of providing against the perils resulting therefrom.
The Italian Government, therefore, finding itself forced to think of the guardianship of its dignity and its interests, has decided to proceed to the military occupation of Tripoli and Cyrenaica. This solution is the only one Italy can decide upon, and the Royal Government expects that the Imperial Government will in consequence give orders so that it may meet with no opposition from the present Ottoman representatives, and that the measures which will be the necessary consequence may be effected without difficulty. Subsequent agreements would be made between the two governments to settle the definitive situation arising therefrom. The Royal Ambassador in Constantinople has orders to ask for a peremptory reply on this matter from the Ottoman Government within twenty-four hours from the presentation of the present document, in default of which the Italian Government will be obliged to proceed to the immediate execution of the measures destined to ensure the occupation.
Pray add that the reply of the Porte within the aforesaid limit of twenty-four hours must be communicated to us through the intermediary of the Turkish Embassy in Rome also.
San Giuliano.1
THE TURKISH REPLY TO ITALIAN ULTIMATUM REGARDING TRIPOLI, 29 SEPTEMBER 1911
The Royal Embassy understands the many difficulties of the circumstances which made it impossible for Tripoli and Cyrenaica to share in the benefit of progress. An impartial examination of conditions does, in effect, suffice to establish that the constitutional Ottoman Government could not be held responsible for the existence of a situation created by the former regime. This being accepted, the Sublime Porte, in reviewing the course of events of the past three years seeks, but without avail, those circumstances in which it is claimed she has shown herself hostile to Italian enterprises relating to Tripoli and Cyrenaica. On the contrary it has always appeared to her normal and reasonable that Italy should cooperate with her capital and industrial activity to the regeneration of that part of the Empire. The Imperial Government is conscious of having shown favourable disposition each time it was confronted by propositions conceived in that spirit.
The Ottoman Government also has examined and generally settled in the most friendly way every claim and all other questions laid before it by the Royal Embassy. Is it necessary to add that in doing this it obeyed dictates so often manifested to cultivate and maintain relations of trust and of friendship with the Italian Government? In short, it was this sentiment alone which again inspired it, when it proposed most recently to the Royal Embassy an arrangement based upon economic concessions likely to furnish to Italian activity a vast field for operation in said provinces; in setting as the only limitation to these concessions the dignity and the superior interests of the Empire, as well as the treaties actually in force, the Ottoman Government gave expression to its sentiments of conciliation without, however, losing sight of the treaties and conventions that pledge the Ottoman Government to other Powers, and whose international worth would be forfeited by the will of one party.
Regarding the question of order and of security, both in Tripoli and in Cyrenaica, the Ottoman Government, well posted to appreciate the situation, can only prove, as it has already had the honour to do, all lack of reason which might justify apprehension regarding the fate of Italian subjects and of other foreigners therein established. Not only is there at this time no agitation in these countries and even less of inflaming propaganda, but the officers and other agencies of Ottoman authority have as their mission the safeguarding of order, a mission which they perform conscientiously.
As regards the presence in Tripoli of Ottoman military transports, which the Royal Embassy takes for its text to deduce from it the possibility of ominous consequences, the Sublime Porte believes it necessary to observe that it is question of a single transport whose expedition antedates by several days the note of September 26, independent of the fact that this expedition had no troops on board, could have had no other but a reassuring effect upon the people.
Reduced to its essential terms the actual disagreement resides in the absence of guarantee likely to reassure the Italian Government regarding the economic expansion of interests in Tripoli and in Cyrenaica. By not resorting to an act so grave as a military occupation, the Royal Government will find the Sublime Porte quite agreeable to the removal of the disagreement.
Therefore, in an impartial spirit, the Imperial Government requests that the Royal Government be good enough to make known to it the nature of these guarantees, to which it will readily consent if they are not to affect its territorial integrity. To this end it will refrain, during the parleys from modifying in any manner whatever the present situation of Tripoli and of Cyrenaica in military matters; and it is to be hoped that, yielding to the sincere disposition of the Sublime Porte, the Royal Government will acquiesce in this proposition.2
1 Translation taken from: ‘Ultimatum from Italy to Turkey Regarding Tripoli’ in The American Journal of International Law, Volume 6, No. 1. Supplement: Official Documents (January 1912). pp. 11-12.
2 Translation taken from: ‘The Turkish Reply to Italian Ultimatum Regarding Tripoli’ in The American Journal of International Law, Volume 6, No. 1. Supplement: Official Documents (January 1912). pp. 12-14.