Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-06
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS CAR TO MEET SULTAN
Moving of House Stirs UpI Questions of Etiquette Per-
Trouble. So turb Turkish Press.
MATTER FOR CIVIL COURT PRECEDENT WILL GOVERN
Mohammed to Sail Out to Wei
raws Visitor
SALARY MAY VET RE- RAISED NICHOLAS TO COME ABOARD
pro,r.ss-stor.s Clos. jar
oonques"
Questions of Etiquette Per-
turb Turkish Press.
PRECEDENT WILL GOVERN
Mohammed v to Sail Out to VEL
come Visitor.
NICHOLAS TO COME ABOARD
Porte Then to Return Call-Sultan
Can Travel Abroad Only for
Conquest.
Foreign Correspondence of The Star.


CONSTANTINOPLE. August %. 1909.
The meeting between the czar and the
sultan, of which the newspapers have
been talking vaguely for some time, will
take place this month.
The journals have discussed this mat
ter from every point of view and have
come to opposite conclusions. Some. for
example, affirm that the first visit should,
according to etiquette, be paid by the sui
tan. while others are equally certain that
it is Nicholas II who should first pay a
visit to Mohammed V.
Again, while one section of the press
affirms that the meeting will take place
ton assures its readers that the Palace
prepared, and is now almost already for
the reception of the Emperor of Russia.
Government by Etiquette.
Substantially. both sections are wrong.
AS sovereign who has already been
some years on his throne. Nicholas II
could not take the first step and pay a
first visit to new monarch. All court
customs would be opposed to this. How
ever, the Turkish newspaper editors, who
have not much experience OF international
eIlQueucs DcucVGu tIdI SuCtl q lLlu6 Wdo
possible. and a special concourse of cir
cumstances strengthened them in this
idea.
AS a matter of fact. M. Ycharykoff, the
new Russian ambassador in CONSTANT
nople, came here with special program
to carry out-a program of rapproche-
ment with Turkey. Himself a man of lib
eral ideas, he sympathiZed Immediately
with the liberal elements In CONSTANT
nople, and gained their esteem.
1 cof hiyrrSo1f ahOlfahinT
the general opinion that Russia must of
necessity be the traditional enemy of Tur-
key. He frequently declared his convic-
ton that. just as England and Russia,
who were formerly. regarded as irrecon-
cilable foes. had been able to find the
basis for a sincere accord. so exactly the
same thing could happen between Russia
and Turkey.
that the visit OF the cxar formed part
of the program of NJ. TcharykoR,
and they said in their hearts that the
car would come to Constantinople to
pay court to the Turks in their capital.
1t should be observed that such an
Interpretation Of the signs and portents
was both ingenious and at the same
time dangerous. In Russian circles. In
deed, SO much resentment was shown
that for some days 1t was considered
whether the proposed meeting between
the car and the sultan should not be
abandoned altogether.
Travel Only for Conquest.
On the other hand. Ottoman usages
are not calculated to facilitate sultanic
journeys to foreign countries. Accord
ing to a tradition which was only
broken by Abdul Aziz, the caliph can
not leave Mussulman territory unless
1t is to conquer the infidel country
which he enters.
Possibly the changes recently brought
about will shortly permit the absolute
even in that event the sultan will be
much perplexed when 1t comes to Sc
lecting the first foreign sovereign
whom he is to visit. Why should Inc
begin with the czar rather than with
the kaiser or any other reigning mon
arch?
decision, whatever it may be, would
have tremendous political significance
and enormous consequences In the in
ternational relations OF Turkey, which
has need Of the support of all the
powers.
For all these reasons the meeting OF
the car and the sultan will be arr
ranged in such q manner as to prevent
the possibility Of speaking either at a
visit of the former to the latter or vice
versa Nicholas II will proceed in Ital-
ian waters to a meeting with King
Victor Emmanuel III. His majesty will
pass through the Black sea. the Sea of
Marmora, the Aegean, In fact, through
Ottoman waters. and will steam in his
yacht in front of the Dolma Bagtche
palace. the sultan's residence
He will make this journey twice. go
ing and returning It would be truly
remarkable ", when such an occasion
is presented, the two sovereigns OF
neighboring empires should not use the
opportunity of meeting and shaking
each other by the hand.
These are the circumstances which
have determined the meeting between
the car and the sultan. International
courtesy demanded 1t, and the good
relations existing between Russia and
Turkey rendered 1t easy and almost
spontaneous. The imperial yachts will
encounter each other at sea, and it Is
said 1t will be the sultan who will go
to meet the car.
But the car, as proper act OF
courtesy. will be the first to leave mis-
yacht to go on board the Erthogroul
to pay visit to his host, so to speak
in the latter's own house. and the sui
tan will thereupon return the cars
visit upon the Russian imperial yacht.