ABSTRACT
Contemporary observers generally assumed that the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 was organised, or at least inspired, by the Young Turk emigres abroad, though they remained uncertain how so extraordinary an achievement was accomplished. It is evident that the aims and objectives of the Young Turks of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) at least those who genuinely looked to promote union and progress differed little from those of the statesmen of the Tanzimat period, who had first promoted Ottomanism and promulgated the First Ottoman Constitution. In 1907 Talaat, wishing to establish an outlet for his society's propaganda abroad, had made contact with the Young Turk organisations in Europe, in particular with Ahmed Riza's group in Geneva. Contemporary observers were virtually united in their conclusion that the Young Turk Revolution of 1908 was the product of a conspiracy mounted by Young Turks, Jews, Socialists and Freemasons.
