The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-05
TRICKY TEWFIK PASHA.
How the Turkish Minister Proved He
Was EauaI to ANY Emergency.


ST. LOUIS, July 4. - The GIobe-Demo-
Gratis London correspondent has received
the following letter from an American in
Constantinople: You people in London and
America do not appear to understand the
situation here. Perhaps you will begin to
understand it's seriousness when the gut
ters of STEAMBOAT are once again running
with blood. We Americans and Europeans
here are as nervous as cats. We know
there is danger; and all this time is being
wasted in the tomfoolery of peace nego-
tiatiOns Doubtless the cable has already
told you how, when the British ships in
the Golden Horn fired salutes on the
Queens jubilee day. thousands of ruftians,
armed with buldgeons and knives, rushed
into the streets asking whether they should
| begin on the Greeks or the Armenians
| This was not a surprise to US. We can go
any evening to certain cafes in the To-
plane quarter and find there the leaders of
these hordes, avowedly ready and waiting
for signal to cut throats.
You Will probably think our fears run
away with our common sense but things
incredible to you are known facts to US.
They are known, too, to ambassadors and
through them to every government in Eu-
rope. Tewtik has been repeatedly informed
that if Christian blood is shed Turkish
blood shall flow with it the next time He
has invariably smiled and assured the en-
bassadOrs there is absolutely no danger of
disturbances. This man is conducting the
peace negotiations on behalf of the Sultan
whom he sees several times a day He
tens hes with a facility somewhat remark
able, even for an Oriental diplomatist
When tackled with the significant Incl
dent of jubilee day, and asked to explain
why innocent Armenians were arrested in
hn doc lf-A Il ~,
cident had never occurred and nobody ad
peen arrested. Yet 1t is beyond doubt that
at least two hundred Armenians were
thrown into prison that day and remain
there. No mans life is safe here A nod
from the palace will destroy it. Have you
heard of the murder of Zeki Pasha, Ger
man military officer in the Ottoman serV-
ice? He was no mere Armenian, but an
exalted dignitary of conspicuous ability
who had rendered great service to the
Turkish authorities, but he was suspected
of affair of gallantry with a lady re-
motely connected with the imperial family
The Sultan winked, and poor Zekis life
was snuffed out He was reported missing
about the middle of June, and ten days
later his body was found, covered with
dagger wounds, in the courtyard OF an emp
ty house.
"a clear case of suicide blandly ex-
number and character of his wounds
showed that suicide was out of the ques-
"Oh. well then. doubtless he was the vic
tim of Greek venom against German Off
GERS in his Majesty's service, and there will
probably be more to follow, was the an
sWer.
HTewhk is, in truth, equal to any emer-
gency. A fortnight ago Sir Philip Currie
wanted to hurry things so the Turkish
troops could be taken out of Thessaly by
the end of June.
" What need of haste?' asked Tewfik.
His Majesty's troops are perfectly COM
Portable, we'll behaved and able to protect
the people. The Thessalians should not de-
sire to return to King Georges incompetent
rule
''Sr Philip retorted that it was ridiculous
to suggest that the Christian Thessalians
yearned for the Turkish yoke. TeWhk re-
piled: / will prove your EXcellency entirely
misinformed' Then he wired Edhem Pasha
for petition from the people begging the
Turkish troops to remain, as it would be
useful in the peace negotiations And, pres
to! the thing was done. This week Tewfk
graVely brought before the ambassadors a
petition purporting to be signed by Is 900
Thessalians The ambassadors shifted, but
there it was with signatures beautifully
written and in imposing array. Sir Philip
remarked that the Thessaiians were evil
IDENTIFY we'll educated contrary to the gen.
eral run of things in Greece, and to all APP
pearances the majority had enjoyed the ad-
vantage of the same capable writing mas
ter Tewfk replied that the same idea had
occurred him.