CRISIS IN TURKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 5

CRISIS IN TURKEY.

GEN ERA!/ REVOLT FEARED,

By TelCEraph-Fross A6sociation-Copyri(;lit

London, July 11. Several European newspapers comment on the gravity of the situation in Turkey. It is stated that the reason Shovket Pasha, Minister for War, resigned was because the- artillery refused to fight the Albanians. The Albanian revolt is threatening to develop into a general suovomont against the Government, and tho CommitUe of Progress. Tho Italian war is dragging, and there is much discontent and intrigue in Constantino nib. in. . censequence of Shevkot Pasha having failed to purge the army of politicians.'

HOW TURKEY'IS RULED. A HOPELESS MUDDLE. One of two horrid fates awaits the wjounier in Constantinople who attempts to follow-Turkish political life at. all closely.. The atmosphere of scares and lies and petty intrigues that ho must plunge into is, according to Mr h. Ward Price in,the "Daily Mail, fatal to character, and he 'either degenerates into an hysterical wreck or becomes,a cynic who would not believe an archbishop on 'it is a lamentable tiling to have to say, continues Mr. Price, and a jarring disappointment to all,the hopes and .compliments lavished on ioung constitutional Turkey three years ago, bit it caii no longer bo denied that Parliamentary institutions in Turkey are a failure. The country is simply, not ready lor tliein. That is tho clear opinion which I have-'come to after a year's acquaintance with Turkey, starting with the Englishman's natural prejudices in favour of an elected Chamber. To say that the only way for Turkey to improves is Id shut up her new Chamber, strangle her recently liberated press, and set up a despotism again sounds almost immoral. English gentlemen pi political tastes who take an interest in "Near Eastern problems," and even come and,6tay for three weeks at the Pera Palace,. Hotel :so as to get a "cleaa , idea of the".Turkish situation, gathered .on the spot," will brand such a statement as criminally foolish. They have.themselves been in Turkey; .they will tell you, and tliev know. They have had interviews with Ministers, with deputies,-with-offi-cials. They found them most modern and enlightened statesmen wearing spats, and they came away . perfectly satisfied that all" that Turkey, needs is to be let alone to work out her political wilvation on the most praiseworthy democratic lines. . , ■ *

The Charinirig Turkish Politician. The only . demerit, of these qualifying conclusions, based on nothing ihioro than conversations with Turkish political'leaders; is that they are quite wrong. It is at once the charm and tho drawback of Tiiridsh politicians that they are personally so very nice. In a dignified way that is Most convincing the members of ench party will attribute the evils, of the country- to the , factious antagonism of their' political opponents.. Without elaborate deception, but solely by .charm .of mariner, 'tho committee party make you see that the Opposition is a junta of dis-c-O£.tented:placeTseekers, while tho leaders of the Opposition compel you to-bslieve that tho committee is a tyrannical oligarchy whose hands are red with political murder. But when one gets away from both parties and considers in an impartial «ray the question of Turkey re-fcrmin-s: herself, 1 the plain fact stands oiit that all thesp Parliamentary Hjuabbles are leading mwliere else, than towards Brother revolution. . i What this straggling, disordered, patchwork. Empire wants' is a strong hand to govern it.. Within immediate memory three' nominally .Turkish .prpyinces ■ biiV.e passed- definitely 'into- other-hands, 1 aikl unless'the sap of tfbod Koveriiinerit can be made, to run into Macedonia, she, too, like a. withered branch, will break away. If 'Turkey,- as an -independent Sta,te> is to become the, orderly, well-governed.country that eydryone hoped for when the despotism of Abdul Hamid was broken, then .tho instrument of. parliamentary govcnir ment by_ wJiich her regeneration was ex-pectod-to be worked has got to be changed. .. \- Politicians with- £50 a Month. ' What, but disorder.is to be expected from BUch-tth, assembly as that: which rules Turkey?' Almost to n nianthey are professional politicians, living oh the .£SO a . month they di'aw as. deputies. Their sittings are orgies or; clamorous intrigue of section.against section, and of personal attacks .upon members of the: Govern-, ment, which in themselves would be' enough to prevent any beneficial activity on the part of the Ministry. . Yesterday (writes Mr.. Price) the President closed the Chamber in disorder, while.au Opposition member was fighting his.way to the tribune to proclaim some accusation of against the Grand Vizier, dug ont of. tho corrupt records of the old regime, wjiat time a clerk of the House, justly indignant at this infringeinent of the order paper, was poising himself to batter the disorderly deputy's head ;vith a chair us soon as lw struggled within, roach. .'. ■ In the last three weeks wo have had three distinct and critical "affaires," and the. chances of la "coup d'etat" by military force are openly treated in discussion in the House. . ■ ' Yoked with such a Parliament, regard--less .of .weedy, enemies abroad and;'desperate discontent at home, no Administration, however, well-intentioned, could raise. Turkey froni the sloUfrh of political despair into which slio daily struggles deeper. . ,