Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-21
DISSOLUTION OF THE
TURKISH PARLIAMENT

political gravity OF Europe. On Decem-
Der 30 the cabinet OIL
Cabinet Said Pasha resigned inl
consequence Of the OBJ
'esi6"s. structive tactics Of the
members The grand vizier
stated that the modification of the
was necessary for the
establishment of strong government
and the creation Of reforms. Italy was
enabled to prosecute successfully its
African campaign only because Of
Turkeys internal troubles
On the 9th instant Said Pasha was
again intrusted by the sultan with the
formation Of new cabinet. On the 18th
the constitutional amendment was de-
feated In the chamber Of deputies and
the dissolution was then decided on as
the only recourse.
For the reason that the Turkish cues
ton Is destined to remain q part Of our
daily political regimen. ii is we'll just here
to clear up situation which appears
mixed even to the people Of StambouL
to say nothing of the occidental other
wise engrossed.
We are familiar with the organization
known as the party OF union and prog
ress This Is the p.rty which has con-
stituted itself since the Young Turks
rule. The power behind the throne. and
despite the throne, whose powers it has
usurped n measure Col. Ismail Haiku
is the acknowledged chief OF the party of
been emphasized recently by the iatter's
marriage with one of the daughters OF
the Sultan Mehmed v.
There is another party riva! Of the
union and progress known as the lib
eral union or .'union'
Rival and liberty" Its chief
.p. is Damad Ferid Pasha,
who is also son-in-law Of
the sultan. This new party. CONSISTING
OF divers foreign elements. counts sixty
or more members. all liberals and mod
crates in vote of 24O members. The
union and liberty party aspires to a
more important role in the elections to
follow the dissolution.
In the recent debates in the chamber Of
deputies Said Pasha explained that the
to modify the constitution
was rendered necessary in order TO form
a strong government which could treat
successfully the probable peace negotia-
lions with Italy.
But It was not only the question of nego-
tiations with Italy which weighed heavily
on the grand vizier's mind. but Mace
don:a was disquieted and Crete was again
for revolt. The explosion OF a
bomb which destroyed mosque at Istip
had provoked violent feelings for Mussul-
mans against Christians. The famous
committee of Macedonia
n
the autonomy of Macedonia and
this action presaged period of dan
ger.
A dispatch dated London. January IL.
that the adherents of Premier
Venizelor Of Greece and all the Christians
in Crete have joined the insurrectionary
movement. An insurrectionary commit
tee governs the island and is again about
to Serd Cretan deputies to Athens to take
part in the next session Of the Greek par
lament.
The Cretan question is now back again
TO the point whence 1t started. The pro-
tecting powers have been
Cretan strangely inefficient in solving
~, q question which was and is
OySAo' a danger to them and to all
Europe. 1t was elementary politics to
have arranged the status of Crete when
the government Of the young Turks. after
the fall of Abdul-Hamid. was not yet In
the saddle, and consequently was In
receptive mood. all the more so that the
new government was sadly In need OF
funds which the powers could have fur
nished for the account OF Crete Besides,
the question was not between Crete and
Turkey, but between Crete and the pro-
tecting powers
Cretans are Greeks, and the rowers
have persistently recognized that fact in
taking Crete under their protection. The
intention of the powers. 1t was under
stood. was to prepare Crete for union
with Greece, and 1t was for THIS That
the king was accorded certain rights over
the island. Young Turkey, which was In
a receptive mood. is now no longer SO
but will maintain. II 1t may, the empire
without diminution.
Twice the Cretan assembly has pro-
her union with Greece and
grave tension was provoked two years
ago when the Greek flag was hoisted on
the barracks at Canea.
The Turco-Itaiian war created again
favorable situation which permitted the
protecting powers to accomplish their de-
sires and, joining Crete to Greece. rio
once for all of the incubus.
In October 1911, the Cretan assembly
brusouely declared the dissolution of its
government from Turkey and
placed the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. VI Tic dud
Of the island in the hands of the colonel
the militia.
~
The morning after the dissolution Of
the Cretan assembly an insurrectionary
committee launched an
Tn surrectiOn insurrection in fact and
proceeded to elect depu-
Launcne0. ties to Athens.
This situation creates embarrassment
at Athens and at the same time much
alarm in the capitals of the protecting
powers, which we may recall are Lon
don. Paris, St. Petersburg and Rome.
Execution, Of course, Is made of Rome,
which cannot but feel that it acted better
than it knew when, with her colleagues.
Il did nothing to solve the Cretan prob
lem. Happily for Rome, the Cretan trou-
bic rises now to add 20 Turkeys respon-
sibilities at the moment when the latter
must negotiate with Rome for the sur
render of Turkeys rights in the Tripoli-
tan.
The Cretan question is actually a sub |
ject Of discussion in the councils OF the |
powers. Each is endeavOring to f1nd a |
solution. Some of them persist In de- !
handing outright that the porte abandon /
That suggestion. IL may |
be remarked, was first made In 1881 by |
NJ. Eynard, a Genoa banker.
Others propose to institute In crete Tor
the profit OF King George of Greece a |
personal union regime" like that IN
eastern Roumelia following the coup
atat of 1885. In making that proposition
rI. iS- @ q