New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-15
CALIPH AND SULTAN.
ENGLAND'S PLAN TO FREE THE SUPREME
HEAD OF THE MAHOMETAN CHURCH
FROM TURKISH THRALDOM
ABDUL HANDS ENDEAvoRs TO usuRp rns
cALlrHNTE oF ISLAM WHICH BE-
LONGS TO THE GRAND
sliEHIF or MECCA

part II the English press to make light ~ tho
r"marlabl" story which appeared the other lay
under the t'l" If a New British Intrigue" IN
l'adrd 1872" on The editorial page IF the t
Petersburg Noyoe Nrrmya' which may Boz le-
soribrd the Muscoyite counterpart of The
London Times and the s-mi-oficial organ Of the
cars government yet any one who has resided
in the Orient. become acquainted with Mahom-
ctans ana made himself familiar with the vari-
GUS features Of the faith Of the Prophet viii be
ready % accord to the statements Of the Russian
newspaper the Importance and weight which
they deserve
The story in brief is to the effect that tho Brit
ish Government. having decided 90 invest
Mahometan Sheik with the administration Il
Koranic law at Zeilah-which with the sur
rounding country is almost entirely populated
by Mahometans has addressed to the Grand
Sheriff Of Mecca letter requesting him to give
his approval to the appointment in his capacity
As head u the Mahomctan Church throughout
he world and As the principal descendant Of the
Prophet. and therefore chief Caliph II Islam.
This part " the story is not merely likely. but
almost certain TO be based fact. since it -
in accordance with what are known To be the
interests and the policy Of Great Britain The
"Novoe Vrcmya" then goes to declare that
the English Government has offered 70 proclaim
Mecca. Medina. and. in fact all that portion Z
Arabia in which the holy cities are situated. IS
the property Of the Grand Shcriate. assuring
to the latter the revenues Of the holy cities ana
entire Independence from the Sultan of Turkey.
well freedom from Interference on the
part Of any other foreign Power
with regard TO these alleged promises 4
Great Britain. they may or they may not havs
been made. but the fact remains that the possi-
bnty IF England Offering something " this kind
to the Grand Sheriff at Mecca has long consti-
tuted the chief dread and principal source Z
nightmare 10 the Sultan at Constantinople. and
is regarded by all possessed Of any knowledge =
the East As constituting a trump lard in 'h;
hands IF Great Britain. ready To- bee played It
any opportune moment
ABDUL HANDS, INTRlGrES
In order to understand the situation it IS
necessary to explain that the present Sultan =
Turkey has usurpcd the position Of Caliph that
is 10 say II the spiritual chief or Pope Of the Nil
honctan Church Throughout the entire world.
and is devotiug immense sums and an extraorii-
nary amount II energy to recover in this form
the power. the prestige and the Importance
which he has lost as the temporal sovereign +
the ottoman Empire Turkish gold and Turkish
agents are now known to have been largely 70
,, .,,,.;.. .i,,.,., i,,.v,,lic,lla
7po"S''' ''' ''' o''''' "'''' ''. p''1,'.
against the English in India
I,,. .,.r tho s,,ltan * to p,sh this snocies Il
.n-Isi,noic rrouaeanda IN support Of his pre-
,,.i,,, to ,linlo,c is shown in that ne has
caused al .n. oil .lifions Of fh,. Koran which
,.,,,i1 ,b. t,,,,.iiss.i -h.rifs or nr.scri,,i,ns
and i,i,n.tin,s Of I'M. prophet defining the IT.