The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-09
(From The Pail Mall Gazette. }

anu AS NOW an EXue-nls SCrauSe EA-
perience in Asia Minor.
From The Pail Mall Gazette.)
The following we'll mar
rative, which throws some new light up
on Turkish official tactics, and especially
upon the responsibility of Abdul 'Hamid
in the recent massaores, comes from
Constantinople. u
Khaled Bey, member of one Of the
most ancient Kurdish families, was tutor
for four years to Rechad Effendi, the
present heir to the throne of Turkey,
whom he instructed in diplomacy and in
the Persian language. The young Prince
while under his tuition. conceived q
warm admiration for the upri ght char
aoter and indispensable integrity of his
master, but the Sultan, perceiving this,
took exceptions to Khaled Bey and
resolved to remove him from the capital
Suddenly, in 1879, Khaled found HIM
self nominated Minister in Bulgaria, and
was obliged to quit Constantinople for
Sofia. Ho did not, however, remain long
in this post, for he was shortly after
ward dispatched to Persia in the capacity
of Am bassador. Here he remained seven
years, during which the late Shah be-
came much attached to him, treating
him as friend, and often asking his ad-
vice upon political matters. At length,
however, his health failing, lie asked to
be permitted to leave Teheran. This was
granted, and the Sultan named him,
after much hesitation, Wall of Adana, in
Anatolln
de was required, according to the Trade
OF nomination, to reach Adana by land
in order that he should not pass through
Constantiuople on the journey, so great
was the Sultan's fear OF his independent
tendencies. He replied Indignantly that
at his age, and in his state OF health,
II was impossible for him to traverse
the whole of Asia Minor on horsu shack,
that he would be compelled to travel by
sea, and to pass through the capital.
His uncle, Mohammed Pasha, interceded
for him, and permission was at length
gran ted.
On his arrival at Constantinople he
Immediately proceeded to Yildiz Kiosk
to present his homage to the Sultan.
according to Turkish custom; but on
arrival there he was informed that Abdul
Hamid refused him an audience, but
sent him his salutations and requested
him to leave at once for his villa yet.
He replied to the official who delivered
this message that he was astonishsd at
such treatment. having always served
his sovereign faithfully for long period
in high positions and that: as he was
evidently not trusted, he preferred to re-
sign his post. The Sultan, much in :
censed, wished to force Khaled to obedi-
ence, but Rechad Effendi having pleaded
in favor of his tutor. to the latter was
offered the dignity Of Bala on the condi
ton that he would leave Immediately
to undertake his duties. Still he re
fused; hut at length the Grand Vizier
prevailed upon him to accept the Syrian
Province of BeyIoot.
He remained in Beyroot two years, but
owing to a dispute with the English
Consul, he was eventually removed to
the villayet of Kasta mount, on the Black
Sea, and near Armenia. Again he was
ordered to proceed to his post by land,
and again he expostulated without re-
ceiving reply to his representations. He
then embarked, on his own RESPONSE bility
on board steamer proceeding via Con-
stan tinople; but at Ohenak Kalahn, a
Turkish boat was waiting for him, which
took him, in O storm, to Ga1lipoli, when
he telegraphed to Constantinople for per-
mission to repair thither, prom ising that
II he were allowed to do 50 he would
leave again almost Immediately for his
fused he would resign. Permission was
! accorded, but when the vessel in which
he was a passenger anchored. an aide de
camp appeared and presented an Trade
from the Sultan, forhidding him to land,
troops being in readiness to prevent his
leaving the vessel. He spent two days
on board the steamer, and at length, re-
| signed to the inevitable. he left for his
q estination.
In his new post his health did not i'm
prove, and three months after his arrival
he sent in his resignation. His services
however, seem TO have been SO highly
valued by the Sultan that an increase OF
salary of 8, 600 piasters month was off
cred to him to remain at his post. Said
Pasha, who at that jnnoture was named
Grand Vfz1er, and who was personal
friend Of Khaled Boy, persuaded him to
remain in office, but this Minister hav-
| ing been replaced shortly afterward, he
again asked to be relieved of his duties.
While he was waiting for an answer to
his request. Riffat Pasha became Vizier.
an on order was sent to all the Waits
so that they might repress the Armeni-
ans
| AS soon as this order reached Khaled
| Bey, he replied. oondemning the measure
ami demonstrating Its evil consequences.
Then he invited to his house the chiefs
| OF the Mussulmans and of the Kurds. and
declared to them that II a single Armeni-
an was injured in his province they
would pay the penalty with their heads
At the same time he doubled his preoau.
| tions. The result was that in the two
years during which massacres were per-
petrated in Asia Minor not single Ar
menian was killed in the villayet of Kas-
| tamouni, while Khaled Bey was Wall.
AT length this exceptional Wall, find
ing that his health was definitely break
ing down, sent fresh kilograms begging
| the acceptance of his resignation. But
the Porte replied this TIME by sending
| functionaries to watch his actions, where
upon he ceased all relations with the
Government, and one morning left sud-
| denly for little town on the Black Sea.
| On reaching this he found an Trade
awaiting him, which required him to
| return to Kasta mount at once. Upon his
refusal to do SO an aide de camp was
| dispatched from ConstantinopIe Wits
| instructions to force him to obey. He
received the emissary of Abdul Hamid
| and said to him:
'Hf am n prisoner, justice requires
that l should be transferred to another
| place. If am the Governor General
the law authorizes me to resign. am
Ill, old. and weak, and incapable, there