the anglo-ottoman convention was only part of a wider bargaining process and the complexities of the competing european commercial interests in the region prevented its ratification. russia, france, and germany (and later italy) also had been pressing the ottoman government for railway concessions. ratification was further complicated by the fact that most of the powers themselves were engaged in bilateral negotiations with the ottoman empire, just as the british had done with this convention. also, attempts to obtain oil concessions from the ottoman government added to the complexity of commercial arrangements. finally, the ottomans and british emerged as enemies within months of the anglo-ottoman convention of 1913, as the outbreak of world war i diminished any hope left for ratification.