Turkish negotiations with the Western Alliance, in which the Ottomans would betray their Austrian allies in exchange for recognition of their dominance over Eastern Europe, proved an elaborate ruse as Turkey's plan to trick Austria itself proved a trick perpetrated on the English and Germans. But in fact, it appears the Westerners knew this all along, and in fact conned Turkey into thinking it was conning them into thinking it was conning Austria; the Germans did not even make the moves they told Turkey to support. It seemed the only on at all taken in by the ruse was The Emperor of Austria-Hungary, who mentioned in correspondence with the General Secretary that he had privately started doubting, and worried that the fake betrayal could become a betrayal in truth.

This still isn't the truth.