The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-08-11
Consul General in New
York Jealous of
Minister.
RACIAL PREJUDICE
CAUSE OF ENMITY
Syrians Meet at Legation TO Pro-
test at Recall-Says Father
Hasn't Fled Country.

That Mehmed All Bey, the Turkish
minister TO the United States, vino, IL
is reported, has been recalled by the
new cabinet. is the victim of a powerful
enemy who n close TO the Sultan, is
the opinion expressed today by many of
his COunrymen in this city. The min
lister, himself, has not yet received Of
ncial notice Of his recall, but admitted
that he is contemplating a return TO
Co stdniinople within a short time.
W e Il is a fact that a meeting
was Leld last evening at the legation,
1910 Cal l,eTI street, at which q protest
was made Jy a score Of Syrians against
the recall OF Ali Bey, whose appoint
menJ pleased the subjects OF the Sultan
in this country, the minister declares he
knows nothing whatever of that meet
ing, and his secretary denies II was
held at the legation. II is known. how
ever. that q meeting of indignant Syr-
ians, countrymen of the minister, was
held there. When the story leaked out,
they were very reluctant 20 discuss It.
Minister IS Syrian.
The minister is a Syrian, the first 10
be appointed TO such post OF honor,
and now that ne is TO be recalled they
feel that 1t Is a blow at Syria.
Minister Ali Bey declared today that
while he realized there was a ferment
in the ministry he had not yet received
an Official recall About the meeting
G, protest he would say absolutely
nothifg.
4 am in a very delicate position. as
you must realize" he said. Every day
there come press dispatches from Con-
stantinople telling Of changes and do
in.gs Of the porte. OF these I am az
solutely ignorant. I am IN no better
position to know OF what Is done at the
porte than you are, In 1att, II is rom
the newspapers that get all the IN
formation / receive. Officially 1 am In
the dark"
rs It true that there is a man high
in the councils Of tle sultan who de-
slTes your downfaI?' ne was asked.
Seems To Admit Having Foes.
The minister's cO'Intenance grew very
grave and he hesitated a long time be-
fore he answered. lie talked in French
with his secretary for a few minutes,
and then said:
There are few men who have no enc
mics. / canno. say what / think-I am
not in a position TO take you or anyone
else into my confidence IN this matter.
But your father, Izzet Pssha, why
does he leave Turkey"
"Ah, that 1 cannot answer, either.
Nv father is a prominent man In my
country. lie has LEFT the country, tne
uressiOn goes out that ne Is fleeing. i
do not believe that. He Is deeply IN
terested I'm railroads. IN IaCL, ne estaO-
lished the first one in syria, aIld ne mas
probably gone TO Mecca OF Damascus
/ have not heard that he Is coming TO
America"
Consul General His Enemy.
The bearing of the minister and Of
his secretaries and advisers would indi-
cate. if nothing else, that the crisis is
approaching with great rapidity, Gud
that they fear IL. II is known that the
consul general at New York, Mundji
Bey. a Turk, and With powerful friends
in the ministry bears the minister III
will and because of jealousy would rain
see him deposed and succeeded by a
Turk. preferably himself. With such
enemies working against him, say the
Syrians, Mehmed Ali Bey may well fear
the crisis when IL comes.
Allowing such a meeting was held
last night at the legation is regarded
as a serious affair. 1t is said that the
minister himself was present and voiced
his resentment at the reported recall.
Few Svrians have been h0nOTed with
high posts in the diplomatic service. and
the TURKS envy those few and are doing
everything in tireir power TO work their
ruin.
All Jealousy Says Syrian.
A prominent washington Syrian. who
attended last nights indignation gath
ering, said today:
Jealousy, jealousy. it is nothing more
and the source or it all is Mundti Bey
the consul general at New York. Mundji
Rev is a Turk the minister is a Syrian.
us all IN that. MundJi Bey, l be-
Heve. is mscTupulOus and would go to
any extreme to secure the recall OF the
minister whom we all respect as an able
dinlomat. a worthy son of his father
The consul has accused 1ZZet Pasha or
instigating the Armenian massacres.
l--.ot -. alla Is q nraaL and gond man.