Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-07
SAID PASHA SEEKS ASYLUM
Former Grand Vizier Safe for the Present
from the Sultan's Wrath.
TOOK WARNING FROM THE FATE OF OTHERS
Famous Turkish Statesman Incurs the
DispIensurc of Abdul Hnmid and
Places Himself Under the
British COlors.

Bulgaria, Dec. 6.)-The feature Of the pollti-
cal situation here today Is the step taken by
Said Pasha president of the council OF state
and formerly grand vizier, in seeking refuge
today, accompanied by his son, a lad Of about
IL years, In the British embassy.
An investigation of the affair shows that
the sultan yesterday sent a special messen-
ger TO Said Pasha inviting him to occupy
the chatelet within the grounds OF the
yldz park, which was formerly occupied by
Midhat Paeha, at one time governor general
Of Syria, later governor Of Smyrna, and who
was tried on suspicion Of having been con-
nected with the murder Of the late Sultan
Abdul Aziz. Fully aware of the significance
OF this Invitation, Said Pasha declined. This
is said to have made Abdul Hamld take steps
to arrest his former grand vizier, who Is
suspected by the palace people Of intriguing
for the deposition of the present sultan in
favor of ex-Sultan Murad. now a prisoner in
the yildiz kiosk, aud who was declared by
the council OF ministers In 1876 to be suffer-
ing from idiocy. Abdul Hamid, IL seems, be-
lieves that Said Pasha was trying to. in
fluence the council of state to declare him
the SULTAN suffering from weakness of
mind. This enraged Abdul Hamid that he
determined TO get Said Pasha out of the
way 1t may not have been the plan to
actually murder the latter. but nobody doubts
that If he had been enticed into the yildiz
chateet he would have at least remained
there a close prisoner for a long time to
come, and some morning the news of his
suicide" would possibly have been crcu-
> lated.
SAID PASHA IN DISFAVOR.
In addition to suspecting Said Pasha OF
desiring his deposition the sultan has been
led to believe that the former grand vizier
made no earnest efforts to induce the powers
to withdraw their demands for the extra
guard ships 1t was pointed out to the
sultan that II Said Pasha's influence had
been strong enough to bring about the recall
OF the British gunboat Dryad from the en-
trance OF the Dardanelles 1t was sufficient in
view OF the peaceful condition of Constanti-
nople and the efforts being made to restore
order In the provinces, to persuade the
powers to waive their claims for additional
guard ships. 1t was in vain that Said Pasha
had protested that he had done everything
possible under the circumstances. The sultan
would not listen to his explanations and
drove him from his presence. Tewfk Pasha
the minister for foreign affairs, some days
ago. bitterly denounced him for his alleged
treachery When Said Pasha had left the
palace the advisers of Abdul Hamd were not
slow to intimate that the president of the
council Of state was dangerous enemy who
should be promptly deprived of the power of
doing further harm. The sultan was i'm
pressed with the idea. But Said Pasha was
too important parsonage to be
dragged from his residence by the
police or soldiers. Somebody hit upon
'i.e uSa VI tempting laSna once more
within the gates of the yildiz kiosk by the
offer of the vizierate. Rifat Pasha the pres.
ent grand vizler. being supposed to have
fallen into disrepute with his royal master.
TOO OLD FOX.
Said Pasha. however. Is too well versed in
the traditions of the yildiz kiosk to be
caught with such bait. He sent polite
refusal when formally offered the vizierate
and this led to the less subtle offer of ac-
commodation in the famous Mdhat Pasha
chatelet of the yildiz park. The pasha re-
fused this tempting offer unless the present
conditions Of the government were changed"
and when he heard that the sultan nerved
to desperation by the intimatlons of the
palace courtiers, had determined upon his
arrest, he lost no time in placing himself
under the protection of Sir Philip Currie.
Then 1t became known that during the
progress of these negotiations, Said Pasha
upon one occasion was detained at the palace
so long that his friends who had been fear
ing his arrest Tor weeks past, went to the
ambassadors for advice.
Nobody here doubts that Said Pasha had
good reason to seek the protection of the
British ambassador and the situation is rec
ognized on all sides as being extremely criti-
cal.
When the sultan was informed of the
course taken by Said Pasha he was greatly
incensed and made several futile attempts
TO induce the fugitive to return TO his house
He sent Tewfk Pasha and other ministers to
the British embassy, where they had a long
interview with Said Pasha and held out ali
kinds Of promises to him on the sultan's be-
half but all their efforts to persuade the
pasha to leave the embassy came to nothing.
Said firmly refused to trust himself outside
OF his asylum.
WILL STAY WHERE HE IS.
Later in the day Tewflk Pasha visited Sir
Philip Currie and begged the ambassador to
do his utmost to induce Said Pasha to re-
turn to his home. making use of the argu-
ment that the flight of the president of the
council of state was certain to have a very
bad effect upon the population of Constanti-
nope and might cause trouble of most
serious nature. But all these arguments
were thrown away upon Sir Philip, who.
after listening quietly 10 all his caller had |
to say on the subject, politely told him that |
he could not interfere In the matter He |
added that Said Pasha had asked for an |
asylum and that his request had been |
granted. There the matter ended, SO far as
the British ambassador was concerned
The failure of Tewfk Pasha's errand in |
creased the anger of Abdul Hamid, whe sent |
his secretary to interview the fugitive presi- |
dent OF the council Of state. The secretary |
spent two hours with Said Pasha at the en- ]
bassy doing his utmost to persuade him to |
return TO his residence. But no amount of |
argument would change the mind Of the |
pasha and the secretary went away as un- |
successful as Tewfk Pasha.
The ambassadors then met at the residence |
or the French ambassador to consider the |
situation.
USUAL RUMoRS AFLoAT.
The usual rumors are afoat in regard to /
the probability OF the concert Of the powers
being broken and 1t is intimated that the
sultan Is likely to come out ahead once more
In his struggle with the powers on the
suardsh,p question, as there is a possibility
OF Russia and France Withdrawing their de-
mands. This rumor does not attract the at
tehtlon that 1t would have attracted had Il
not been for the fact that the same report
mas been started by the palace officials
NUMBER OF times during the past two weeks.
rms evening the situation in the interior
Is sun disquieting in spite Of the assurances
or the Turkish government
United states Minister Terrell has not re-
ceiNed telegram Of reply from the Amer-
can missionaries at Caesarea, to whom he
Mtea immediately after hearing Of the out
Dreak OF disorder there. This has served to
increase the anxiety at the American ministry.
Mr. Terrell has addressed two notes to the
porte, one OF them demanding the dismissal,
arrest and punishment Of the officer COM
manding the Turkish troops at Marash for
falling to furnish guard for the protection
CT the American mission buildings there, and
also demanding the punishment OF the sol