Abstract:

Despite its unsuccessful counter-strike against Italy's unexpected invasion of Tripoli, the Ottoman government did not impose martial law on Italian nationals living in its territories. The Ottoman state lacked the necessary military and economic power to defend Tripoli, and tried to receive support from Great Britain, France and Germany, unaware of the clandestine negotiations between these countries. Believing that protracted political discussions would result in a treaty with favourable conditions, the Ottoman government stayed away from serious interventions that could lead to adverse outcomes. However, Ottoman citizens reacted to the timid policy of the Ottoman government and applied their own sanctions against Italian nationals. Popular rage at the lack of retaliation against Italy gradually focused on Italian nationals. Under the pressure of internal turmoil and in the hope of calming troubled social and political conditions, the Ottoman government initially dismissed the Italian nationals working in government offices and, after giving up hope of settling a peace agreement, later decided, with few exceptions, to expel all Italian nationals.

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