Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Islam Arastirmalari Dergisi, cilt.2024, sa.51, ss.83-138, 2024 (Scopus)
This article discusses the events surrounding a book draft submitted to the Porte by German journalist Dr. Julius Grosser in 1895. The draft, which was written in French and was essentially intended as blackmail, makes heavy accusations against the “Hamidian Regime” as well as the German experts in Turkey who collaborated with the Regime. In this respect, the book had the potential to distrupt the Ottomans’ relations with Germany, which had increased its influence in Turkey considerably. On the other hand, it is important to notice the manner in which the Sublime Porte and Yıldız Palace took a stand in the face of such an initiative that would have harmed the Ottoman state’s efforts to be “civilized,” with the attempt to foster a positive image in the Western public opinion with the Tanzimat reforms, so as to gain a legitimate ground in the international system. This article traces the activities of Dr. Julius Grosser, the owner of the Agence de Constantinople, and his wife Anna Grosser-Rilke, who would later take over his cause and business, through Ottoman archival documents. Thus, it also aims to contribute to the understanding of the attitude of the Abdülhamid II administration towards foreign news agencies with reference to the example of the aforementioned agency.