CRISIS IN TURKEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11111, 8 May 1911, Page 5

CRISIS IN TURKEY.

—; 9 .- 1' DICTATORSHIP THREATENED, By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Constantinople, May 5. Dissensions in the Young Turk party have led to a Ministerial crisis. Mahmud Shevket Pasha, Minister for War, has threatened a dictatorship unless the differences are comrosed. It is understood Mahmud Shevket favours a dissolution. A TANGLED SITUATION. It is exceedingly difficult' to disentangle the threads of the political confusion in Turkey. On the one hand, it is said, there is tho Central Body of the Committee of Union and Progress, the Young Turk organisation, sitting at Salonika, and claiming full control over the action of Ministers,' though not, of course, exercising the responsibilities of administration. The Salonika Committee also controls the Young Turk majority in the- Chamber. On the other hand, the Ministers, though members of the party, and to this extent subject to the Salonika Caucus, are said to complain of the constant interference of the Committee. Even if they wanted to obey orders from Salonika they would not be able to conduct an intelligible and consistent policy, as the Central Committee itself is frequently divided against itself and suffers from fluctuations of judgment. A rumour has been current in tho Continental press for somo time to tho effect that Shefkct I'ash.i. the Generalissimo and Minister for War, in view of the critical position of affairs in Arabia and elsewhere, is desirous of cutting tho knot by suspending the Constitution and establishing a military dictatorship.