TURKISH ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1417, 18 April 1912, Page 5

TURKISH ELECTIONS.

YOUNG TURKISH PEIUL FEARED. By Telegraph—Press Association -Copyright London, April 16. Tho "Daily News" states that tho results of the election in Turkey show that instead of a Liberal policy there lias been a steady Ottoniaiiising of the Empire, and unless tho Young Turks fulfil their pledges nothing can save' them from disaster and Europe from a grave peril. Ono hundred results have been announced, but only four members of the Opposition have been .elected. AIMS OF THE OPPOSITION. One of the leadors of tho Turkish Opposition, Colonel Sadik Bey, was interviewed recently by ft correspondent of tho, "Manchester Guardian." He was one of tho leading spirits in the revolution of 1908, but has since abandoned the Young Turks, as ho disapproves of their secret methods. In tho course of an interesting statement he said:— "We stand for liberty and an equal footing for every race and creed in Turkey, and we nssert that this has not been accorded, and that tho promises of 1908 have not been fulfilled. And we protest rgainst packed Ministries, government by cliques, secret committees, and the methods of bravoes. In our programme wo propose to allow officers of tho army, navy, gendarmery, and police to be elected deputies, but we do not allow either them or civil employees to vote, as they do at present. ■. The reason for this is that we'wiiilt Hd'ai'Mcl any'occasion .for i tho Government to influence public opinion by means too obvious to need men- i tion, and- wp do not want military su- ; pronmcy. Soldiers liavo no business to j interfere in politics. I say nothing | against them as n class—l am a soldier ; myself, and I know what the revolution i owes to the army. But I may tell you ( that 95 per cent.'of the officers are with 1 us, and all the younger men among them. ; "What chances of success have we? ] Well, tho Greeks arc with us, and nearly all the Bulgarians. Tho Armenians aro divided. The Huntcliakists liavo approached us, and we hope to got them ' and others. Of course, the Jews aro solid for the Committee, but wo are snro of the Arabs, both Syrian and . Mesopo- 1 tamian."