The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
THE KEY OF THE WORLD"
Disposition of ConstantinOpe Problem in the Impend
ing Dismcmbcrment of Turkey.

This Fatimate CalipA, so called because
descended from Nahomet's daughter Fa-
tina. had no authority whatsoever 20
bequeath the dignity or title 10 any one;
least Of ell 70 one who was by race and
ancestry legally and theolOgfcaliy dis
qualified No Sultan ventUred 10 lay any
stress upon the possession OF the title OF
Caliph until Abdul Hamid who with
the object OF Strengthening his claim
thereto. is said TO have gone 10 the length
OF eliminating from the copies OF the
Koran. published IN Turkey, those Kha-
dissei Shereefs which contained the in
spired Injunction concerning the Cali
phste.
This, however, IS a question pertaining
exclusively TO the MosleIa faith. It Is a
religious Issue that concerns only the
followers Of the prophet, and in which
Christians and Jews are entitled 10 no
say. and that unbelievers should have
chosen this matter Of Islamic doctrine
to deprive a Mohammedan ruler OF his
s5vereignty over his co-religionists must
naturally tend to prejudice Aoslems
against the present government at STAN
boul-
There is. therefore, not only the prob
ability, but the certainty OF disturbances
that are breaking out in all parts OF the
Ottoman empire rapidly developing into
something very much akin to civil war.
But the great powers Of Europe cannot
tolerate anarchy and general disorder
either in Turkey in Europe, or even IN
Turkey in Asia.
They have extensive interests IN both
sections OF the Ottoman empire. and they
choose 20 regard themselves as responsi-
bic for the safety not merely OF the life
and property OF their own subjects in
Turkey, but even for the protection Of
the Christian subjects Of the Porte
Greece and Bulgaria. Austria and Rus
sia, viii each OF them be eager to inter
vene under the pretext Of restoring law
and order at their doors
Germany, France. and, in particular.
Great Britain. viii feel bound 70 inter-
rere In order 70 prevent any OF these
governments from obtaining an undue
share OF the spoils IN the dismemberment
OF The Turkish Empire; and even the
United States may feel itself compelled
70 take part IN the game. II the sangui-
nary strife between the Moslens and the
Christians IN Turkey takes the form OF
the massacre OF the numerous American
Of their wives. and OF their
children, and the destruction OF their
property. and Of their educational estab-
lishments.
OF course. the principal issue between
the various powers, when the moment
arrives for the partition OF Turkey. viii
be the disposition Of ConstantinopIe.
which the great Napoleon described asj
the Key OF the World" and the control
Of the DardanelIes- Constituting as these
do the entrance 20 the Black Sea, and
the sole access 10 al the sea ports OF
Southern Russia, neither the Gar nor
his people can tolerate their possession
by any other power than tbs now mori-
bund Turkey
Some OF Russia's richest provinces are
in the southern portion Of the empire.
where both the already developed re-
sources and still latent wealth OF the
country are enormous. These depend for
exploitation upon access to the open sea.
which can only be obtained via the
Dardanelles: consequently, the Russian
people. whose one great national dream
for hundreds Of years past has been 10
secure possession Of COnStGltinOple- and
10 restore the cross in lieu OF the cres-
cent on the mosque OF St Sophia will
never allow any other country 20 rob Z
them Of what they consider 10 be their
heritage.
Austria. Hungary, RoUmania, and Bull 1
sariss who carry on a very important 4
and ever growing maritime trade with 4
foreign nations. via the Danube. the Black I
Sea. and the DardaneIles. are equally I
positive that Russia must. under no cir I
cumstances, be in q position OF mastery 4
al COnstaGtinOple. Moreover. Austria re- 4
allies that Salonica, upon which she has
long had designs, would be relatively 4
useless 10 her with Russia AZ StambouI- 1
There IS such q large amount Of Ger I
man capital now invested in Turkish .
and Germany has such vast
interests in the Ottoman Empire. that
Emperor William may be relied upon TO 4
object n the strongest possible fashion
10 any other power than Germany be
coming supreme on the shores OF the
n IS77 Great Britain threat
ened instant var upon Russia Il the