New-York tribune., 1906-05-03
THE WRANGLE IN ARABIA.

The boundary dispute between Turkey and
Egypt involves not only the sovereignty OF
Arabia Petrea, but also the integrity Of Turkish
communication with Arabia Felix itself Sixty
five years ago, when the Khedivate was made
hereditary. the Turkish government gave to the
Egyptian government authority to administer all
the affairs of Arabia Petrea and to maintain
Egyptian garrisons at Akabah and other places
Practically that peninsula which lies between
Asia and Africa, was made politically part Of
Africa. That was done for the express purpose
of enabling the Egyptian government to safe
guard the pilgrims from Egypt and the Barbary
States to Mecca. as far as the great pilgrim road
at Kalaat Mdawara, or at least as far as the east
ern side Of the Gulf Of Akabah. In those days
the pilgrims all went by land When, however,
the land route was largely abandoned for the
water route to Jeddah, that Egyptian guardian
ship of the roads became no longer necessary,
and in 1892 when the present Khedive sue
ceeded to the Egyptian throne, Turkey proposed
the abolition Of that arrangement and the with
drawal of the Egyptian garrisOns from Al1abah
and some other places in the peninsula, which,
it was said, were to be reanneXed to the viIayet
of Hedjaz, though Egypt might continue 20 ad-
minister the remainder and chief part OF the
peninsula. 1t was, indeed, expressly stated that
all the territory west of a line drawn from
Akabah. at the head Of the gulf Of that name to
main under Egyptian control. Now Tabah, the
place to which Turkey recently sent troops and
over which the wrangle rose, lies well to the
west of that line, and therefore certainly belongs
to Egypt by Turkeys own concession.
Turkeys reason for wanting to regain control
OF Akabah was partly. of course, that she might
have that important outlet on the Red Sea. She
is constantly having trouble with Yemen and is
threatened with trouble also in Hedjaz and
NaZr, and It is becoming more and more rleces-
sary for her TO have water communication with
those coasts. Now she cannot very well use the
Suez Canal route for her warships and troop
ships. But If she could utilize Akabah she
could maintain what navigation she pleased be-
tween that port and YambO, Jeddah, HOdeida
and Mocha, without passing under Egyptan-tO
wit, British-scrutiny. In order thus 10 make
the best use Of Akabah she has planned 10 con-
struct a branch railroad to that place from the
great Hamidieh-H -Hedjaz trunk line. Originally
this was 20 run from Maan, on the trunk line,
TO Alkabah, bat lately for engineering reasons. 1t
has been decided 20 run IL from Kalaat Mda-
wara instead of Maan. Building operations on
this road have been conducted with much se-
crecy and at the same time with remarkable
energy, under the direction Of Turkish author.
ities German promoters and engineers and Ital-
ian contractors. and the line Is believed now 20
be nearing completion. OF course, Turkey wants
% control "a considerable district around It's
Red Sea terminus, and that Is why she has tried
90 seize Tabah. Her pretsnce' is that she is
titled not only 70 the town and fortress, but also
70 the district" Of Akabah, and that Tabah
lies within that district. The Egyptian-and
British-reQly rs that there is not and never was