1921, November 23rd, Wednesday.
The chill Wednesday morning of November twenty-third found Sultan Murad VII and his inner council steeling themselves for the second day of the Joint Working Group negotiations on the Constantinople Port Authority. The previous day's explosive opening, where Cavit Bey had unveiled a fraction of the "Ledger of Lies," had clearly shaken the Allied representatives. The Ottoman strategy was to relentlessly hammer them with the truth of their corruption, using the growing international scandal as the bellows to heat the forge.
Before Cavit Bey and his team departed for the Ministry of Justice, Murad met with them, along with Tevfik Pasha and Reşid Akif Pasha. "Yesterday, Cavit Bey, you drew blood," Murad stated, his eyes intense. "Today, you must press the advantage. Their initial shock will have worn off; they will have conferred with their High Commissioners and received new instructions. Expect them to try and discredit our evidence, to minimize its significance, or to offer more substantial-sounding but ultimately hollow concessions. Our demand for a fully independent, internationally credible forensic audit of all past accounts, and genuine Ottoman co-management of the Port with real authority, remains non-negotiable. Do not waver." "I have no intention of wavering, Your Majesty," Cavit Bey affirmed, his usually austere face set in lines of grim determination. "The truth is our anvil, and their lies will shatter upon it." Saffet Ziya Bey, the diplomat accompanying Cavit, added, "We will also observe closely the interactions between the Allied representatives, Your Majesty. Esad Bey's intelligence suggests growing friction, particularly between the British and French. We may be able to exploit that."
Kolağası Esad Bey's morning intelligence digest brought further fuel to their cautious optimism. "Your Imperial Majesty," he reported, "the international press coverage of the 'Constantinople Port Scandal,' as some are now calling it, has intensified significantly. The Manchester Guardian in Britain ran a scathing leading article this morning demanding a full public inquiry and criticizing the Foreign Office for its 'complacent oversight of colonial administrations.' In Paris, the debate in the National Assembly yesterday regarding Monsieur Dubois and the Port was reportedly tumultuous; the French government only narrowly avoided a vote of no confidence by promising 'immediate and decisive action to restore integrity.' Several smaller European newspapers – in Sweden, Switzerland, even some in America – are now picking up the story, often with a tone critical of Entente arrogance." "The fires are burning brighter," Murad murmured. "This news will undoubtedly have reached the High Commissions here. It will make their negotiators… uncomfortable."
The second session of the Joint Working Group convened late that morning. The atmosphere was even more charged than the previous day. Colonel Hughes, the British hardliner, looked as if he had swallowed acid. Mr. Davies, his civilian compatriot, appeared deeply uneasy. Monsieur Lacroix, the French diplomat, was pale but composed, while Monsieur Dubois, the implicated dragoman, seemed to have shrunk in his chair. The Italians, Signor Valenti and Count Moretti, watched the proceedings with keen, almost vulture-like, interest.
Cavit Bey, wasting no time, immediately reiterated the Ottoman demand for an independent forensic audit. "Gentlemen," he began, "yesterday we presented a mere sample of the evidence in our possession demonstrating systemic corruption. An 'internal Allied review,' as was vaguely suggested, is clearly insufficient to restore public confidence or satisfy the legitimate claims of the Ottoman Treasury. Only a fully independent audit, conducted by a firm of unquestionable international repute – perhaps Swiss or Swedish – with full access to all records, past and present, can establish the true extent of the misappropriations." Colonel Hughes slammed his hand on the table. "This is an insult, sir! Are you accusing the Allied military administrations of being incapable of conducting an honest review? We will not subject our sovereign procedures to the scrutiny of some… hired foreign accountants at your behest!" "If your procedures are indeed honest and beyond reproach, Colonel," Cavit Bey retorted coolly, "then you should have nothing to fear from an independent audit. Indeed, it would vindicate you. Unless, of course," he paused, letting his gaze linger on Hughes, "there is much more to hide than even we currently suspect." He then produced another photographic copy from his portfolio. "Perhaps this might clarify why we insist on independence. This document, gentlemen, is an internal memorandum from within the British section of the Port Commission, dated six months ago. It explicitly outlines a procedure for classifying certain 'sensitive operational expenditures' in a manner that would make them 'difficult for external Ottoman observers to interpret or reconcile with declared revenues.' It is, in essence, a blueprint for obfuscation, signed by an official very close to you, Colonel Hughes." Hughes stared at the document, his face mottling with fury and disbelief. Mr. Davies let out a small, strangled gasp. Monsieur Lacroix leaned forward, a flicker of what might have been grim satisfaction in his eyes as he saw the British delegation squirm. Even Signor Valenti raised an eyebrow. "This document," Cavit Bey pressed, "is just one more reason why an audit conducted solely by those who oversaw, or participated in, such obfuscation would be a worthless charade."
The debate raged for hours. Hughes blustered and threatened, accusing Cavit Bey of relying on "stolen papers and malicious interpretations." Davies attempted to argue legalistic points about treaty rights and Allied prerogatives. But Cavit Bey, supported by Ahmed Şükrü Bey's legal expertise and Saffet Ziya Bey's calm diplomatic interjections, relentlessly hammered them with facts, with figures, with the sheer weight of the "Ledger of Lies," revealing just enough at each turn to counter their denials and increase their discomfort. The divisions within the Allied team became stark. Monsieur Lacroix, clearly under instructions from Paris to contain the damage, began to subtly distance himself from the British hard line on the audit. "Perhaps," he mused at one point, "a jointly agreed-upon panel of experts, including Ottoman nominees, could review the findings of an initial Allied internal audit, thereby ensuring a degree of… mutual confidence?" Signor Valenti, the Italian, went further. "Indeed. Transparency is paramount. If there have been errors, they must be rectified. Perhaps a phased audit, focusing first on the areas of greatest concern identified by Minister Cavit, could be a practical way forward?" Colonel Hughes looked as if he was about to explode. "Are you suggesting we capitulate to these… demands based on purloined documents and baseless accusations?" "The documents, Colonel," Cavit Bey said quietly, "are far from purloined. They were obtained from a patriot sickened by the corruption he witnessed. And their contents are far from baseless, as I am prepared to demonstrate further, page by damning page, until even you are convinced, or until the parliaments of Europe demand your recall."
It was then that Monsieur Lacroix played what was clearly a pre-planned card. "Gentlemen," he said, turning to the Ottoman delegation, "my government, and I believe the Italian government concurs, is prepared to demonstrate its commitment to rectitude. Regarding the unfortunate matter of Monsieur Dubois here," he gestured towards the pale dragoman, "whose name has been regrettably mentioned in certain… public discussions and whose conduct has been questioned by your government, we are prepared to suspend him from all duties immediately. Furthermore, the French High Commission would not object if the Imperial Ottoman Ministry of Justice wished to conduct its own inquiry into any specific financial dealings Monsieur Dubois may have had that fall within Ottoman jurisdiction, provided due process is observed." Dubois looked up in horror, a strangled protest dying on his lips as Lacroix shot him a silencing glare. Cavit Bey and Saffet Ziya Bey exchanged a quick, almost imperceptible glance. This was a significant offer – a clear attempt to sacrifice Dubois to appease the Ottomans and the French public, and perhaps to deflect attention from more systemic Allied corruption. "The suspension and investigation of any official proven to have engaged in illicit activities is, of course, a necessary step towards justice, Monsieur Lacroix," Cavit Bey replied carefully. "And we appreciate this gesture of goodwill. However, the removal of one individual, however culpable, does not address the systemic issues within the Port Authority's administration, nor the need for a comprehensive, independent audit and a restructuring of its governance." He had not rejected the offer concerning Dubois, but he had refused to let it become a substitute for their core demands.
The meeting broke up late in the afternoon with no final agreement on the audit or co-management, but with the Allies clearly on the defensive and their united front shattered. Hughes was isolated in his intransigence. Lacroix and Valenti were openly searching for a compromise that would limit the damage to their respective national interests. They agreed to reconvene the next morning – the third and final day of the working group's implied mandate.
Cavit Bey and Saffet Ziya Bey reported immediately to Murad. "They are cracking, Your Majesty," Cavit declared. "Pellé, through Lacroix, has offered us Dubois's head on a platter. Garroni, through Valenti, is signaling a willingness to discuss a more transparent financial review, if not yet a fully independent audit. Harington, through Hughes, is still fighting a rearguard action, but he is increasingly isolated by his own government's panic and his allies' defections." "Tomorrow will be the decisive day for this working group," Murad said, after absorbing the details. "They know they must present us with something substantial, or we walk away and unleash the full dossier. Instruct Reşid Akif Pasha to have informal, separate conversations with his French and Italian counterparts this evening. Let him subtly suggest that if a proposal including a truly independent audit, genuine Ottoman representation on a new Port board, and a commitment to discuss restitution is brought forward tomorrow – even if initially opposed by the British representative – it might find… favorable consideration from us as a basis for a final settlement of this specific crisis." He was offering Pellé and Garroni a way to outmaneuver Harington and save themselves.
While this diplomatic battle raged, other fronts saw progress. Fevzi Pasha reported that the Hassa Ordusu's training was proceeding exceptionally well with the new weaponry. "They drill with the spirit of lions, Your Majesty," he said. "And their public presence has had a remarkable effect. Reports of petty crime and street harassment by Allied soldiers in the districts where my men are visible have noticeably decreased. Our people see them as their protectors." Cavit Bey's ministry also received "voluntary" tax settlements from three more wealthy Galata merchants, who had clearly read the writing on the wall after the fate of Lazaros Effendi and the promulgation of the Hatt-ı Hümayun. Each Lira was vital.
Esad Bey's evening report brought more news from abroad. "Your Majesty, the British government faced a barrage of hostile questions in the House of Commons today regarding the Constantinople Port. The Prime Minister himself was forced to state that the government 'views any allegations of misconduct by British officials with the utmost seriousness and is awaiting an urgent, full report from the High Commission in Constantinople.' He promised Parliament a further statement within days. The pressure on Harington from London must now be immense." Esad also reported that his unit had successfully countered a new wave of disinformation pamphlets, traced back to a disgruntled former associate of Kenan Pasha, attempting to portray Murad's government as financially reckless. Arif Efendi and his family remained secure, though the reward for his capture offered by unknown Allied sources had reportedly doubled.
The day ended. The anvil of truth, wielded by Cavit Bey in the working group and amplified by the international press, was indeed hammering relentlessly at the foundations of Allied arrogance. Tomorrow, Murad felt, would bring either a significant breakthrough or the signal for an even greater storm. He was prepared for both.