The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1916. THE CRUMBLING POWER OF TURKEY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2851, 16 August 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1916. THE CRUMBLING POWER OF TURKEY

- The Arab revolt against Turkish domination may be tho prelude to developments of great importance in the Moslem world, and, as Kino Georße rulos over far more Mohammedans than any other monarch, 1 | Arabia's fight for freedom is a mat"xer.of outstanding interest to tho people of tho British Empire. The war has revealed the weakness of Turkey's _ claim to the Caliphate. The spiritual leadership of the Sultan has been utterly discredited. His proclamation of a Holy War against Britain and her-Allies'has been ignored by the Mohammedans outsido of the Turkish Empire, who have treated with contempt the call I'ram Constantinople to partake in a German-made _Jchad. The Moham■medans of India bavo not merely *)een passively loyal to Britain. Princes and people alike, have given practical proof of their willingness to assist the Empiro, and of their sincere desire for the triumph of the causo for which the Empire drew tho sword. All attempts to induce the Ajieer of Afghanistan to give trouble have failed ignominiously. His' relations with the 'Indian Government have been, and are, of i'fio friendliest character, and the restless. bordorland tribes aro quieter to-day than they have been for many years. The faithfulness of India to Britain has been a cause of bitter disappointment in Berlin and Constantinople. It has shown that the S,ultan has forfeited all but the merest remnant of the spirilual power of the Caliphate,' and now the Arabian rebellion threatens to deprive him of the control of the Holy Places of Mohammedanism. It is possible that the Grand Shereef of Mecca may .proclaim himself Caliph. -If he does so, results of momentous import may follow. The Moslem world is just now passing through a critical period. Its allegiance to the Turkish 'Caliphs has been strained to breaking point, and it is not at all improbable that this generation may witness the establishment of a new line of Arab Caliphs. It is a significant fact that the British Government regards the present juncture as an opportune timo for the inauguration of an educational propaganda in Moslem countries. The object of the propaganda is, no doubt, to spread enlightenment regarding the origin and history of the war. and to explain the guiding principles of Britain's policy regarding tho beliefs and customs of the Moslem populations within the Empire. Tho publication of periodicals of this character is a new departure in State activity as far. as Britain is concerned, but its wisdom appears to be unchallengeable. The revolt of the Grand Shereef is a direct blow at the Turkish Caliphate, which depends largely on the possession of the Holy Places. The Spectator points out that if Turkey's claim to the Caliphate should be overthrown, the objection to Russia's presence at Constantinople would go with it. Constantinople would lose tho last vestiere of its sacredncss to the Moslems. It is stated that tho students and the "doctors of sacred law at the great Moscmo of El Azhar at Cairo aro 'decidedly sympathetic to_ tho Mecca movement, and the feeling at El Azhar is regarded as one of the most reliable barometers of Moslem sontiment. The Arabs and Syrians have had a taste of German "K11Ilur." They want no more of it, and they refuse to_ recognise the authority of a Caliph who has degraded his office by making it an instrument for the propagation of Herman influence in Asia Minor. They see that Mohammed V. lias lost his independence, and is nierely a slave who is compelled to obey the orders of German taskmasters. ' It is a desecration that a vassal of the Kaiser should be entrusted with the nuardianship of Mecca and Medina. The Moslems of Arabia have not forgotten that as soon as war was declared against Turkev the Government of India issued a proclamation declaring that their Holy Tlaccs would be immune from attack or molestation by British naval or military forces so long as there

was no interferons with pilgrims from India. This promise nas been faithfully kept. The Moslem world has no love for Germany or for German methods.

"Germany aiul Austria," said' tlio Aga. Khan in thr. striking message to -tho Moslems of India "which, ho issued after Turkey liod joined tho Central Powers, have been disinterested friends of Ifilaan, and while the one took Bosnia, tho other has long been plotting to becomo "tho Suzerain of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, including Kcrbela Nejef nnd Bagdad. If Germany succeeds, wbich Heaven forbid, Turkey will become only a vassal of Germany, and tho Kaiser's resident will be tho real ruler of, Turkey, and will control tho Holy Cities. . . . Turkey was tho trustee of Islam, and tlio whole world was content to let her hold our Holy Cities in her keeping. Now that Turkey has so disastrously shown herself a tool in German hands, slie has not only ruined herself, but has Jost her position t>( trustee of Islam, and evil will overtake her."

In. the course of a speech in the House of Lords the Earl of Cromer -stated that recent events in Arabia were important, because anything which affected tho Holy Places touched very nearly the interests of •the whole Moslem world. They were also satisfactory because, although ho had no detailed information on the subjcct, he hoped the action taken by the Shereef of Mecca and . those associated with him was an indication that they put implicit confidence in tho declaration' very wisely made by His Majesty's Government that it had no intention of interfering with tho administration or independence of the people of the Hejaz. The revolt of Arabia was another object lesson, to be added to hundreds that had gone before, 'showing how truly impossible it was lor any European to foretell what was going to happen 5 in the East. Is it too venturesome to predict that the usurped authority of the Turkish Oaliphs is ncaring its end? Mr. Cunningham Grahajie thinks 'that the time is opportune for the creation of a Mohammedan State on the ruins of the already crumbling Turkish Empire, and that Britain should acknowledge the Shereef of Mecca and have a direct.treaty with mm. '