Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-29
British Ambassadors Notice to the
Porte.
TURKEY PLAYING FAST And LOOSE
Another Warship Headed for the
DardaneIIes.
SULTAN IS NEARLY CRAZY


' CONSTANTINOPLE, November 2S. via
Sofia, Bulgaria, November 2?.-The polit-
cal situation remains serious, and the crisis
may be expected within the ensuing twen-
ty-four hours.
The sultan, who IS only more thoroughly
under the influence of the palace party, led
by Izzet Bey, still declines TO give firmans
applied for by the representatives of Great
Britain, Russia, Italy and Austria for the
passage of extra GuardshlDs through the
stralghts of the Dardanelles. This is the
more extraordinary as on Tuesday Tewfk
Pasha, the Turkish minister for foreign
affairs, personally assured Sir Philip Cur
rie that the porte had determined to grant
Immediately the permission required. 1t
would thus seem that while the Turkish
ministers are apparently in favor of grant
ing the firmans, the palace party" Wallets,
priests, chanberlainS and Others who are
the real advisers of Abdul Hamid, are op-
posed to it as calculated to lower the dig
nifty of the sultan.
Meantime the Mussulmans are growing
uneasy, looking upon the threatened ad-
vent of the extra guardships as nothing
less than a warlke demonstration before
ConStantiEople. This is a dangerous fea-
ture of the affair, and is adding 20 the anx-
iety felt on all sides.
In spite of threatened storm, however,
the sultan persists in his refusal 20 issue
the firmens and has again made an evasive
reply to the British ambassadors repre-
sentations on the subject.
The Drynd Ordered to Come.
But Sir Philip Curr;e. when assured by
Tewfk Pasha that the firmans would be
forthcoming, promptly telegraphed to the
admiral in command of the British Medi
terrane an squadron, instructing him to dis
patch a gunboat in the Dardanelles to be
in he as SrIard-
ship at the disposal of the British en-
bassy AS result the twin-screw torpedo
boat Dryad, 1910 tons, carrying two At
inch and four G-pounder Quick-firing guns,
was dispatched to the Dardanelles, and is
expected to arrive at Chanakkale today
and rass right on to the Bosphorus. The
failrre of the porte to grant permission for
the passage to the straits of the Darda-
nelles thus puts Sir Philip Currie in a
somewhat embarrassing position. the only
escape from which is 10 insist that she be
allowed to pass in, backing up the order by
force, if that she uld be necessary.
The sultan is known to be in a state of
greatest agitation by the news that the ex-
ira British gunboat is heading for the Dar-
daneileS, and consequently the position OF
Tewfk Pasha is not a pleasant one. The
latter was sent for at midnight and an ex-
citing Interview took place between him
and the sultan, during which the latter
bitterly and tearfully reproached Tewfik
Pasha for his action in the matter.
The pasha tried to justify himself by re-
calling that the granting of the firmans
had been agreed to in substance by the
sultan, and that he, as in duty bound so
informed Sir Philip Currie when the latter
sent urgent message asking for a
prompt reply to several communications
on the subject.
The sultan insisted that it was impossible
to issue the firearms. as it woul1 cause riot
ing in ConStantnople, and that the powers
should be content with the measures taken
by the government to maintain order. and
not hamper the authorities by making a
demonstration likely to undo all the good he
was endeavoring to do.
The sTltan then instructed Tewfk Pasha
to do everything possible to induce the Brit
ish ambassador to counterman1 his order
for the gunboat.
Tired of TriHinG.
Sir Philip, however, refused to do so say
ing that he was tired of being trifed with,
and reminding his visitor that Great Britain
was acting entirely within her treaty rights
and upon the assurance Of responsible
member of the Turkish government that the
porte had decided to grant the permission for
the extra guard boats TO pass the Darla-
nelles
Tewiik Pasha returned to the palace in
very unenviable frame of mind, and
nounced the failure of mis- mission to the
sultan. The latter is said to have been
frantic with rage. and drove Tewfk from
his presence with fierce revilinSs.
Pasha who is supposed to have some in
frence with Sir Philip Currie, was there
upon hurriedly sent for, and reached the
apartments of the sultan after -; am.
Abdul Hamid eagerly beSought him to go
Immediately to the British ambassador and
spare no effort to induce him to order the
recall of the Dryai.
Sir Philip Finally Yields.
The entreaties of Said Pasha seem to
have had weight with the ambassador, for
Sir Philip finally consented to place the
whole matter at that late hour once more
before his government and to awai: fur
tier instructions, although he is under
stood to have carte blanche as to what
steps he thinks 1t necessary to take in
treating with the sultan.
This morning the British ambassador is
awaiting a reply from London.
The Turkish officials believe the Marquis
of Salisbury, acting upon the understand
ing that nothing Is to be done to hinder
the efforts of the sultan in the work of
maintaining order, may Instruct Sir Philip
to direct the commander of the Dryad not
to enter the Dardanelles at present.
Abdul Hamid appears to have completely
lost his head The public service is en-
tirely disorganzed, the cabinet ministers
are being sent for from the palace at all
hours of the day and night, and may be
said to be in almost constant attendance
upon the Yidiz Kiosk.
Everybody is anxious and worried the
ambassadors being tired as everybody
else here at the long months of almost
fruitless efforts 20 induce the sultan to
really govern his empire with some degree
OF common sense.
Minister TerreIFs Adyices