Odyan Efendi ve Gizli Görevi: Midhat Paşa’nın Talimatıyla Kanun-i Esasi ve İstanbul Konferansı İçin Paris ve Londra’da Destek Arayışı
Odian Efendi and his Secret Mission: Seeking Support in Paris and London for Kanun-i Esasi and Istanbul Conference by the Directive of Mithat Pasha

Summary/Abstract: Kanun-i Esasi, the cornerstone of the Ottoman-Turkish constitutional history, was both a result of internal developments and a solution to counter external pressure. When it was announced, it could not achieve the expected international impact. On the contrary, Kanun-i Esasi, announced on the first day of the Istanbul Conference, was ignored by the representatives at the conference as if it was an ordinary event. As one of the monarchies of the period stepped into the constitutional process, the importance and value of this process should be properly explained and the sincerity in this matter should be guaranteed. The proposals submitted to the Ottoman State at the Istanbul Conference would not be accepted either. The difficulties caused by these proposals should be explained in detail. The support of Britain and France against Russia should be obtained. For all these reasons, Grand Vizier Mithat Pasha sent Undersecretary of Public Works and his adviser Odian Efendi, one of Mithat Pasha’s trusted friends and close colleagues, to Paris and London on a special and secret mission. In this study, firstly, Odian Efendi’s life, his travel and the conditions of the period will be examined. Then, Odyan Efendi’s London and Paris meetings are presented with an analysis of Ottoman and British sources. Thus, the reflections of these meetings as the facet of the process of Ottoman modernization on European public and the approach and reaction of the Great Powers to the Ottoman modernization efforts will be displayed.

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