“WILL RUSSIA MAKE WAR OR NOT?”: JAMES YEAMES’ REPORT ON THE EASTERN QUESTION

Authors : Mehmet Şerif ERKEK, Yakup ÖZTÜRK

Pages : 113-131

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Publication Date : 2023-04-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :James Yeames was the British Consul General in Odessa from 1819 to 1854. He was renowned for his meticulous and trustworthy reports on both the commercial and diplomatic matters. John Lord Ponsonby, the British Ambassador to Istanbul, feared that the Russians might invade Istanbul and the Straits whenever necessary. Therefore, Ponsonby requested Yeames for information regarding the status and activities of the Russian army and navy. Yeames’ reports were beneficial to Ponsonby, even though he was a consul with a mandate to deal only with commercial matters and lacked formal training in diplomacy. This study introduces and transcribes the comprehensive and detailed report prepared by Yeames on February 10, 1839.
Keywords : James Yeames, Lord Ponsonby, Doğu Sorunu, Osmanlı Devleti