part 5: Crisis
It is October 8, 1908 in Istanbul and in the office of Grand Vizier Mahmud Shevket Pasha it is total pandemonium just 3 days ago Bulgaria just declare its independence and now Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary has now announce his intention to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina, ''what can we do?'' he mumble. He knew The Ottoman empire couldn't start a war,it had just came out of the young turk revolution and now was in confusion and worst it could lead to nother confrontation with russia, all the grand vizier could hope for is that the boycott against austria hungary would damage them (and while it did inflict a loss of $100,000,000 in kronen it wouldn't stop them.) After that the Ottomans would receive $2.2 million dollars in lira in compensation.
In Vienna the new minister of foreign affairs, Graf Alois Aehrenthal, was now busy trying to contain the fallout of the announcement, was now meeting with dr. and prime minister Milovan Milovanovic to discuss the fate of the Sanjak of Novi Pazar, ''Good day Hochgeboren'' Milovanovic greeted as he was shaking his hand , ''I wish it was better, doctor'' Aehrenthal answered ''now lets get straight to the details and I have to, hurry i have a meeting with the italian foreign minister.'' '' of course'' Milovanovic started ''It has come my and king Alexander's attention of Austrian intentions of the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia would want the compensation of the Sanjak of Novi pazar.'' Milovanovic finished. Aehrenthal started '' I cannot guarante you that the sanjak will be handed over to serbia because in the treaty of Berlin-'' ''you mean the treaty you're currently breaking by fully annexing the region?'' Milovanvic interrupted. ''As i was saying'' Aehrenthal said calmly ''The treaty of Berlin stated that Austria has the right to station troops in the area.'' ''Yes, but it also stipulated that austria has only 'special administrative' rights nothing mentioning rights of annexation.'' Milovanovic finished. Aehrenthal was about to speak, when again interrupted ''Serbia is willing to accept Austrian control of northern Bosnia in returned Serbia wants its share in territory.'' ''How will Austria benefit from Serbia taking over the Sanjak?'' Aehrenthal questioned, '' Serbia will no longer meddle in the provinces of Illryia or agitate for war against austria.'' Milovanovic stated, ''That is still not a guarante of peace.'' Aehrenthal said unappeased '' Serbia must also guarante that she will not start a war in the balkans or ally with Russia.'' '' That is unacceptable, at least serbia will not join a war against austria by she must still able launch a war against the ottomans or Bulgaria.'' Milovanovic rebuke, '' very well'' Aehrenthal now pleased ''In return of Serbian neutrality and promises of no more advocations of violence, she will receive the Sanjak of Novi Pazar.'' Aehrenthal finished. ''Thank you, Hochgeboren.'' Milovanovic said shaking his hand and saying his farewells.
When news arrived in Belgrade of the negotiations success there were applause but there were still some dissatisfied with the agreement mostly because austria was still able to get some of bosnia. In the Kingdom of Italy, Russia, and Montenegro on the other hand it range from anger to absolute outrage, in Italy, they were completly snubbed of getting back its irredenta lands back and now were starting talkes with France. In Montenegro the attitude was bitterness, they considered the Sanjak theirs and now austria was now giving it all to serbia, who they now considered a puppet. In Russia, However it was a mix of outrage and humiliation first the treaty of berlin, which completely negated the gains in the Russo Turkish war of 1878 and Izvolsky's failure and the revelation of the Buchlau letters added insult to injure. From that day forword russia would never back down again.