New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-12
Curzor and the Sultan.
1yFv Abdul Had of Inda Viceoy-Eighty Million
n Deccan Peninsula

fish interests through his favor. he assumed that
If he could only secure recognition by the entire
Mahommedan world as its chief he would be
treated by the great powers of Europe and by
the United States with a great deal more re-
spect and consideration than as the mere Sultan
of Turkey For some years he devoted himself
to the propagation of this Pan-Islam movement,
sending emissaries to all parts of the Mahomme-
dan world even to China and to the Philippines,
TO lava and TO Central Africa, to Morocco and to
Persia This had the effect OF bringing the
leaders OF the Moslem faith In the various quar-
ters of the globe into communication with one
another; but the result was detrimental to the
Sultan The movement got altogether beyond
his control. Among the questions with which
it felt itself called upon TO deal his policy
and conduct as Moslem ruler, and his claims
to the Caliphate, and now, to his dismay. and IN
defiance of his wishes and Of his interests, the
men who have assumed the leadership of the
Pan-Islam movement have summoned a con-
gress to meet, of all places IN the world. at Con-
stantinople. The Sultan would have prevented
It If he had been able, but did not dare to do So
On account of the great religious influence of the
men at the head of the movement.
The avowed object of the impending congress-
IN which 200000O00 Mahommedans-severa
millions OF them subject to American rule--will
DS 1SPiSSS4lLSu ny OSlSShLSSJ Is TO piulB dDOut7
through religious influence. a common accord
among Mahometans of all countries and races.
whether under rulers of their own faith or SUBJ
Ject to hereto rule. In the programme laid
down special emphasis is given to the necessity
Of preserving good relations with those govern
ments and countries which are friendly to the
interests Of Islam, and which protect the faith
Of its adherents, while MoHlem rulers are warned
that those among them who may become a cause
OF weakness or OF injury to Islam by their pol
icy and by their conduct will be held responsible
before the Sacred Law, from the action of which
there Is no escape. The Sultan himself as we'll
as many others, sees in this programme an at
tack upon himself. and construes its provisions
as an intention on the part of the congress to
call him to account. and to divest him of the
lofty dignity of Caliph which he has usurped.
These fears are justified For It is now known
that the men who will dominate the congress
win come from India, from the British portions
Of Africa. and, worse than all for the Sultan.
from Arabia. where, thanks to the extraordinary
activity OF Lord Curzon and of his able subordi-
mates Of the Calcutta Foreign and Political De-
partment, English influence has entirely sup
planted that Of the Sultan, even in the holy
places Of Islam. In fact IT is the Grand Shereef
of Mecca who is Lord Curzon's and Lord Lans-
downe's candidate for Caliph, as the lineal de-
When, some time ago, Lord Curzon caused a
Moslem sheik to be invested with the admins
tration of Koranic law at Zeilah. which, with the
surrounding country, is almost entirely popu-
lated with Mahometans. he addressed to the
Grand Shereef of Mecca a letter. through one OF
his Indian Moslem agents, requesting him to
give his approval to the appointment. in HIS
pacity as the head OF the Mahometan Church
throughout the world.
It is no longer any secret that Lord Curzon
has IN view the proclamation of Mecca, of Me-
dina and in fact, of all that portion of Arabia in
which the holy cities of Islam are situated, as
the dominions OF the Grand shereehate, assur-
ing to the latter the revenues of the sacred cities
entire independence from the Sultan Of Turkey.
well as freedom from interference on the part
Of any other foreign power. The whole Of the
Arabian peninsula in which the holy places Of
Islam are situated constitutes theoretically a
Turkish province, under the direction of Turk
fish governor who making his headquarters at
Sanaah, maintains garrisons at Mecca, Medina
and at the Red Sea port OF Jeddah, for the pur-
pose OF extorting money which would otherwise
flow into the Golfers of the Grand Shereefiate
from the pockets of the plous pilgrims who flock
each year in countless thousands to the holy
cities from all quarters Of the Mahonetan world,
no less than 20 per cent of the entire number
coming from British india alone. The authority
Of the Sultan and Of the Turkish governor is
restricted only to those spots actually occupied
by the Ottoman troops, and the remainder OF
Arabia is in state Of permanent instruction
against the Sublime Porte, the part of more
less powerful cheftains. who one and all
on the most friendly terms with Great Britain,
and who derive not only money, but likewise
arms and supplies from their coreligionists in
India
Since Lord Curzon has been viceroy England
has been rapidly extending her influence among
the various Arab tribes of the peninsula; has
taken number Of them, both in the southwest
ern corner, near Alden, and on the shores of the
Persian Gulf. under her protection and is stead
lily winning their confidence and their good will
in the same degree that the British government
enjoys on the part of the Mahometans in India
Meanwhile the Sultan, dreading the loss Of the
holy cities and of Arabia. upon the titular pos
session OF which his throne may be said to rest
is straining every nerve to complete the wonder
full railroad now in course Of construction from
Damascus to Mecca, third of which has
already been completed. Once finished. he would
be able to pour troops into the holy places But
1t is probable that before the two years which
are needed for its completion are brought to
close the policy which Lord Curzon is so active
ly pushing will have been crowned with success:
that the mysterious land known as Happy
Arabia will be entirely free from that Turkish
thraldom by which it has been blighted and
that the Calphate of Islam, wrested from the
unworthy and blood stained hands OF Abdul
Hamid, will be vested in the Grand Shereef Of
Mecca, the only lawful heir to the Founder of
the Faith. EX-ATTACHE.
ROSE TO THE OCCASION.
The late Mrs. Gilbert the veteran actress was