PASHA'S SEA COOK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 11 January 1912, Page 2

PASHA'S SEA COOK.

COMEDY OF AN EX-MINISTER AND HIS CHEF.

Headed by Mahmoud Mouklitar Pasha, who. was until lately Ministei of Marine, a special mission sails in the cruiser Hamidieh for Livadia, writes a Constantinople correspondent on November 23, in the Crimea, to convey the Sultan’s salutations to the Czar, who is going to stay there. Mahmoud Mouklitar, who possibly had some experience as head of the Admiralty .of the shortcomings of naval cooks* has insisted that a chef from one of ,the leading.restaurants of Constantinople shall 1 be engaged to accompany the mission on board, the Hamidieh.. This has been done but a serious dilfevence of opinion has arisen as to who shall pay the new cook’s wages. Mahmoud Mouklitar Pasha with the freedom of one newly relieved from office, states that it is, undoubtedly the duty of the Admiralty to pay. It is the duty of the naval authorities, he argues, to provide good cooks in their cruisers, and if they have failed to do so, it should fall upon them to make up the deficiency. The Admiralty poiht' out that since his resignation of Ink’'Ministry, Mahmoud Mouklitar, who’ 'is a soldier by profession, has no longer any connection with them.' His highest rank is now that of general of cavalry, and they urge that the burden of feeding a travelling general should be borne by the War Office. The War Office, on being notified of this suggestion, at once submitted that the mission to the Czar is under the control of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and that all charges connected with its journey should clearly be borne by the Department. The Foreign Office lias replied to this that the addition of a chef to the Hamadieh’s complement has been made purely in the interests of the of the comfort of Mahmoud Mouklitar Pasha, and that he should defray the costs connected with it. Mahmoud Mouklitar, however, reiterates his contention that the Admiralty is liable. It is this circle that three Ministries and an Imperial envoy are revolving. Long and detailed arguments are sot out on official paper, with broad margins and elaborate subscriptions, and sent from one department to another; mounted orderlies carry them from Admiralty across Galata Bridge and went up through Stamboul to the Saraskierat; the Saraskierat fills the margin with explanatory notes and sends them to the Foreign Ministry at the Sublime Porte. The Foreign Office communicates on gilt-edged notepaper with Mahmoud Mouklitar Pasha, As yet no solution is in sight.