Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-30
FREE TURKEY ASP|RES
To Be New World Power, Says
Mundji Bey.
SULTAN ALWAYS WILLING
Constitution Granted Long Ago, But
for Palace Opposition.
WHAT NATION HOPES TO GAIN
Outside influence to Be Destroyed.
England May Withdraw From
Egypt-Other Reforms.
WHAT NATION HOPES TO GAIN

NEW YORK, July 3O.-Turkey, a re-
juvenated and reunited nation. once more
taking her place among the great powers
of the world, with navy equalfng that
which once placed her third among the
naval powers. to safeguard the reawak-
ened commercial and industrial enter
prise Of the country, is to be the result
Of the newly granted Turkish constitu-
ton.
So Mund3i Bey. Turkish consul gen.
eral here, predicted yesterday. For. TO
use the consurs words, sit is not the
sultan who 10 the sick man. but the en-
tire country" vexed and harassed on
every side by foreign influence and inter-
ference
Mundji Bey is a graduate Of the High
Political School at Constantinople. and OF
the sixteen years he has spent In the
porte's governmental service ten have
been in this country, where NE has grown
familiar with progressive American
ideals In an interview the consul saio
Yesterday in his apartments at the wal
dorf-Astoria:
Palace Fought Constitution.
"His majesty the sultan has been al
ways willing to grant to his subjects
constitution similar to the one given IN
1876 under the ministry of. Midhat Pasha
but was prevented by palace influences
His advisers gave him false and misiead-
ing information and the sultan has been
fearful, Furthermore. that dethronement
might follow an act of liberalism, always
having In view the fate of Abdul Azlz.
when the throne devolved upon Apoui
Hamid, the present ruler. he swore TO give
the people freedom and happiness Dy
means Of q constitution. and but Tor the
war with Russia, which followed imme-
diately; the privileges then granted wouio
have continued. But the chambers were
closed and remained so until the issue OF
the new firman last week.
'For thirty-two years the turkish ma
ton has been awaiting a constitution
which has been deferred only, as have
said in consequence of the sultans APP
prehension that he would suffer the rate
of his uncle. But recent developments
have forced his hand. During the iast
thirty-two years Turkey has faiien INTO
decay and is now on the brink OF ruin.
to which it has been driven by the gre at
powers. who are constantly interfering
with every internal question.
Outside influence Barred.
I'VE are now a free nation and we have
a free government. and external interfer'
ence will be no longer tolerated. Through
that influence we have lost our agricul'
ture and our commerce. It Is not the
sultan who is the sick man. but the en-
tire country"
Asked why the grant of a constitution
has not been made before. Mund1i Boy
said:
1.-The sultan has been beset by advisers
Of his own and other European states
who constantly warned him against CIV
ing his people freedom. Russia, Austria
and Italy have been against constitu.
ton. but our best friends. England anc
France, have advised in it's favor.
CAS- regards Germany, the entire com.
mercial enterprises of Turkey are In Ger
man hands and controlled by German
capital. and this condition OF Affairs mas
brought ruin on the country. We want &c
control our industries ourselves and ne"
that we have freedom Of speech and free
dom Of the press, and freedom OF action
generally, we will be able to teach the
world that we are still to be reckoneo
with. that we have energy and skill anc
determination. and that we will exercise
them for the advantage Of our country
Our people are serious. and recent events
In Macedonia. in which army corps after
army corps Joined in the fraternal demon
stration. showed that the whole nation
Is united in the fight for freedom.
Sultan Himself Freed.
Take 1t from me that the new order
of things has always had the good will Of
the sultan. who. throwing OF the shacklef
imposed by his advisers, is now as free al
his people. and you will see what few
years operation of frae institutions will
do for the Turkish nation.
I'VE cannot realize all our liberal aspi
rations at once; 1t may take some years
but the rejuvenation of Turkey will sure.
ly follow. We will build a new navy fol
our protection from nearby enemies. anf
between two and three hundred OF ouI
young men win be sent TO learn the meth,
DDS OF the great western powers. AZ ON