New-York tribune., 1909-04-28
THE POLICY or MEHMED.
Justice to Al Nations Per-
SOndL appearance.

London, April 2S.-The ConstantnOple CORE
spondent of The Daily Chronicle was received
in audience by Mehemmed Reschad at the mo-
ment the National Assembly was sealing the
fate of Abdul Hamid. The correspondent de
scribes him as not unprepossessing. although
his face has a bloated appearance, owing to
good living and lack Of exercise. The new Sui
tan bears a remarkable resemblance to his de-
throned brother His lips thick and slight
ly protruding: ne has the same curve to the
nose and his hair is untinged with gray, but
in other ways he shows signs of times ravages.
He wore a very heavy frock coat and trousers
OF the cut fashionable fifteen years ago. His
physician acted as interpreter
Protesting that it was premature TO address
him Your majesty" the prince said: Il am
glad 10 you. You English have always been
my friends You are the first European to
whom I have given an audience for thirty three
years.
This moment is portentous to the whole Turk
ish nation Ny enemies have slandered
They said l madman. bordering or i'm
becity and they shut me up for years. But
Allah wlIed Il Now, I'm his merciful bounty,
that he has been pleased 10 call to fulfil my
destiny and rule over Islam. wish to send
n message 70 Europe and the entire world.
have ever been an ardent supporter Of the cause
Of enlightenment liberty and progress. If it Is
Allahs viii that I mount the Ottoman throne I
shall enter upon that important office fully
realizing its duties and responsibilities, fully
conscious that heavy burden will fall
shoulders. But, by the help of Allah. I shall
follow unswervingIy the path of duty. seeking
to act justly and honorably to all men, be they
Giaours true believers.
My voice has been silent for thirty-three
years. but the voice Of conscience has never
been stilled. Although shut up here, l have
contrved. feebIy perhaps. TO keep in touch with
the march OF progress in the outside world. a
few partisans loyal TO me through the days of
adversely know that, from earliest years, while
faithful to the teachings of the Koran 1 have
been an advocate of constitutional charter
and parliamentary institutions. From this
opinion ! have never deviated. I hold it to-day
as strongly as / did when young man, seeking
to imbibe Knowledge If Western civilization and
methods I am a firm supporter of the policy
Of Young Turkey With the full enjoyment of
political freedom I nothing Incompatible
with the Mahometan Sacred Law"
Berlin April Pin an interview with the
Constantinople correspondent Of the "Lokai
Anzeiger" to-day Mehmed IS quoted as say
ing: u like the press. whose task il is TO spread
knowledge and information among the nations
and lead them toward happiness. You may say
that I have always lived for the constitution
ever since ] could think, and will always be q
true servant of the constitution. 1t is the
states and the peoples salvation.
II am n friend of the powers continued the
prince. and l can only hope that Turkey Will
have relations of friendship and love with ALL
hut more esIeciaIIy with our old friend and well
wisher. Germany"
dispatch to the "Tageblatt" says that
Abdul Hamid when told Of his deposition. said
since the renewal of the osmanic constitution
have never departed from it. | leave the
instigators of this tragedy to Gods justice. My
innocence concerning these occurrences Is
nroved bv the fact that shot has been fired
from the Yildiz during my reign We won the
Greek war. and l have saved my land In sew
eral crises II my abdication is desired let
Gods will be done