Matter and discussions of the concessions in the Ottoman Parliament

Domestic and foreign entrepreneurs were given many concessions on the Ottoman lands. Criticisms about the concessions thought to be given and given could not be done in the period of Abdülhamit II. Hearing in this matter belonged only to Abdülhamit. Declaration of the second constitutional and opening of the Ottoman Parliament gave an opportunity of the legislations related to concessions to be easily expressed both in the press and in the parliament.Lynch Affair, Chester Project, Baghdad Railway and Telephone Concession which became the agenda in the period of second constitutional form the basic for this thesis subject. Some of these issues addressed between the years 1908-1914 inherited from previous period. Some others came to agenda with declaration of the second constitutional. The bases of the Baghdad railway concession was taken the period of Abdülhamit II. Lynch affair dates back to period of Abdülmecid. Chester Project and the Telephone Concession came to agenda in the Second Constitutional Period. The above mentioned concessions expect for Telephone Concession represented interests of concessionnaires?s countries. Therefore, when Lynch affair is said, a English initiative on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as well as Ottoman-British relations come to our mind. Likewise, it is not possible forms to think Bagdad Railway separate from Ottoman-German relations and Chester Project separate from the Ottoman-United States relations.Aforementioned concessions were told over in the parliament at different times. The opinions of the member of parliament, the attitude of the goverment and the press and even the public?s reaction concerning concessions that came to the parliament clearly revealed the liberal atmosphere that came with constitutional period. The attitude against the foreign concessions and decisions related to concessions will show us the financial insufficiency of the Ottoman Empire and the effects of great powers on the Ottoman Empire in its last periods.