CRISIS IN TURKEY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1498, 22 July 1912, Page 5

CRISIS IN TURKEY.

$. THE ARMY AND THE CONSTITUTION. PROCLAMATION BY THE SULTAN. By. Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrieht (Rec. July- 21, 5.5 p.m.) Constantinople, July 20. ■ A meeting of officers at the Ministry of War sent a deputation to tho Sultan asking him to dissolve the Chamber and appoint Kiamil Pasha Grand Vizier. The Sultau thereupon issued n proclamation upbraiding tho officers for formulating claims contrary to the Constitution and stating that he relies on the Army to avoid politics. TURKEY'S MISTAKES. MEMORIAL BY KIAMIL PASHA. The following are tho~chief passages in a memorandum dated December 20 which Kiamil Pasha submitted ttf the Sultan :— "Ono caunot help being painfully affected by the perilous situation in which we. find ourselves. When one examines tho difficulties and the dangers which have been caused by the absurd road pursued by tho Government in, obedience to the dictates of tho Committee of Union and Progress, which is not even informed of the administrative and political state of affairs, one percoives that the Ottoman Umpire is threatened with dismemberment, and tho Kalifato too is in danger. "Tho Committee of Union and Progress, seeing how Europo was sending us her financiers and opening to us her financial resources with a new; to contributing to our progress and prosperity as well as to tho development of the natural resources of tho constitutional Ottoman Empire, whoso policy had gained universal confidence both at home and abroad, thought that this situation was the most natural in tho world and by no mears due to the confidence inspired by the Government. Tho Committee accordingly decided that it would be best' both for itself and tho country for it to take over the reins of power, and having caused my dismissal it formed a Cabinet of its own members. But tho capitalists, seeing the Government passing into the hands of revolutionists, immediately withdrew their support, with tho result, needless to expatiate upon, that all public works were suspended, and torrents of blood well' shed in suppressing tho revolts which ensued. "Ultimately the ruling organisation constituted under the name of tho Young Turkish Government, being unable to rest its authority on constitutional principles, proclaimed a state of siege, restored absolutism, dismissed the old officials in the capital, and in the provinces, who were conversant with affairs, put in their places its own adherents, who ore absolutely inexperienced and incapable and have by their obedience to the instructions ni' the Committee caused great dissatisfaction among the people and provoked tho insurrections in Albania, Arabia, and Yemen. Lastly, the provocative, attitude assumed by tho Connmtfeo towards tho whole world has caused dissatisfaction also among tho friendly States, has provoked certain measures among tho neighbouring Powers, and has brought, about Wie invasion of Tripoli and Ben Ghazi upon a declaration of war which, as stated in the first note of the Italian Embassy, was an act of ; hostility not against Turkey but against the Committee.

"The neuiralitv of England, Prance, and Russia in the face of Ihis aggression is full of .significance. If this lesson does lint (each us how to behave, other allacks may be expected. The end of the situation—may God preserve us from it!—will be partition. ... As the aim is to avoid bloodshed, and as Hie leaders of tho Committee will be the first victims of another revolution, and their adherents will l>c subjected to persecution, the Committee ought lo proclaim publicly that it renounces the conduct of affairs and will henceforth merely occupy itself with useful pursuits under (he control of the Govcriinie.nl.'" A joint commit tee of Unionist and Opposition deputies ought to consider thus matter, and their decision must I>b submitted to Imperial sanction in order to secure without delay the salvation of the country, which is running the risk of being dismembered, and to nrevenl nnv impairment of tho I'iahfcM i>f llio' KaUfato of yam- Ifupcrial mtj&i • --•