The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-16
THE NEAR EASTERN QUESTION.
How France, Germany and England Are |
Affected by tho Revolt in Arabia.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: Some
concern Is beginning to be felt In Paris at
the progress OF the revolt against the authority
OF the Sultan In Arabia. II Is feared that
should the Yemen insurgents who are now
carrying the war north into the district OF
Asir and approaching Mecca continue to
De successful. the Near Eastern question
wiz arise to trouble Europe In all Its Intensity.
lbhat. the capital Of Asir, with its garrison
Of five bsttalions Of Turkish troops. is already
surrounded and will probably share the fate
OF Sanaa. the $1,000 men under Ahmed Feiz
Pasha at Hodedah being too few to attempt
It's relief One OF the most alarming features
OF the situation Is that tho Imam Yahia. who
leads the revolt. has the assistance Of two
Turks exiled by the Sultan from Constanti-
nople. whom he has attached to his person.
and who played an important part In organi-
zing the rising.
One OF these. Said Bey. Is the son Of Renal
Ehendi. who was at one time Ambassador
at Berlin. and was educated at a German
college He was UP TO four years ago
Councillor OF State. when a sentence OF exile
sent him to Yemen, together with Ella Mollah,
the next religious authority In Turkey after
the eikh-ul-lslam. OF Said Bey the Imam
Yaha made kind OF minister of foreign
affairs through whom he might enter into
relations with the different Governments
having interests in that part OF the world
and who might be expected to intervene In
the event OF new situation being created
for the Califate. which would not be difficult.
Zia Mollah has been named heikh-ul-lslam
Of Yemen. and Is consequently the highest
religious representative OF the Califate II
proclamation deposng the Sultan Abdul
Hamid ii. should be launched from Mecca
or Cairo.
Already false rumors that the Grand Mufti
OF Egypt has issued a fetrd OF excominunlca-
tion against the Sultan Abdul Hamid. depo-
sing him from the Califate have been circu-
lated In Syria, Palestine and Mesopotamia.
and the other parts Of the Ottoman empire
in which the Arab language IL spoken. The
effect has naturally been a great fermentation
among the populations. bringing with 1t
the possibility OF outside Intervention. The
country most Immediately concerned in
maintaining the authority Of the Sultan
Abdul Hamid in those regions, especially
in the northern ports. on account OF the Bag
dad railway scheme is Germany. IL may
also be said that France has q like interest
but not of the same nature. For France
the question would be politco-reigious: and
it would depend on whether a sentence OF
deposition Of the Sultan emanated from
Cairo or Mecca how French interests might
be affected. For Great Britain. the deposp
ton Of the present Calf would be matter
Of supreme Importance. Us In the event OF
its being proclaimed from Cairo the center
OF gravity Of the Mussulman world would
be entirely displaced, and would involve the
question Of the particular status/of Great
Britain in Egypt. and perhaps conflict with
Germany over the settlement Of the long
standing dispute about the Bagdad railway
and its terminal OH the Persian Gulf.
NEW YORK July is. %, pERi,