The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-24
A QUEER TURK
The New Sultan Will Have
Only One Wife

next sultan, Abdul Med1ld, now the
heir apparent, Will be the first to have
out one wife, and as such she will en-
Joy the same romantic position as the
celebrated RoAalana, the all-powerful
favorte wife OF SuIe;man the Magni-
ticent whose to,nbs for centuries have
attracted visitors 10 the Suleiman
mosque in Constanunop!e.
Abdul Medjid is regarded as one OF
the most interesting personalities OF
Turkey. For 80 gears he was q pris-
oner in the house Of his father, ABB
dul AziZ, who was Sultan tor 10
years until his deposition and death
in 1876.
Il was happy during those long
years." he said to The Associated
Press "because / married early, at
"a, married for love, and then used
my time improving my mind, drawing
Wisdom from the works Of the worlds
philosophers" He is no longer otIi-,
cially a prisoner. Since the dethrone-
ment and sudden death OF Abdul
Hamid IN 1908, and the advent Of
the young Turks, he has won his
way 70 liberty at least SO far as travel
in Asia, or in Constantinople, is con-
cerned, and also TO a certain freedom
OF speech.
In person he looks not unlike the
oidfashioned gentleman farmer Of
England or America Stout, bluff,
hearty, his dress is Of rough, loosely
fitting hoEespun, with only the red
fez which Turks wear in or out OF
doors to indicate his nationality.
When he doesn't smile, which is not
often, his greying hair and mustache
and wide, Circassian blue eyes give
him the thoughtful air which has led
Turks to declare he will be a great
Sultan if the whirligig Of politics, in
ternal and international, give him his
chance to fulfill his dream of salvag-
ing the wrecks of the ottoman En-
pire.
I'VE have the n2akings yet Of a
great people, OF a, people that will get
ahead in the arts OF peace and indus
Try under proper conditions" he said
with an air Of deep conviction. Why
won't America give US start?" he
asked in quick, pathetic manner
common to many Of the men OF the
nations defeated in the war.
why should we have those hostile
war vessels in our harDor y year az
ter the srmistice?' he asked. pointing
to the ships swinging in the Bosphor-
us. Why not. settle our affairs; let
us rest from the wars without num-
bers which we have had? ?"
The Prince was looking out from
second story window, as he talked.
OF the Dolmabaghcheh Palace, the
show place of Constautin ople, where
he has the use OF one wing.
Aren't the Turks anxious for an
American mandate because they
thereby see an opportunity to save
themselves from partition and the loss
of Constan tinopIe?" he was asked. Z.
Here the Prince dropped his French
and began talking rapidly in Turkish.
TO Ahmed Erain Bey, graduate OF
Columbia University and editor OF the
nationalist paper, Vahit, who inter-
preted as follows:
I'VE have no means Of letting the
people in America know what kind Of
people we are and what we think.
The Turks want the Americans be-
cause they know the Americans
would treat them honestly and help
them develop a rich country to the
profit Of both. The Americans have
never travelled here much, nor got
ten to know the possibilities Of our
people, who are reasonably honest and
/ l.0 49,, = Of
the Turks have ever betrayed their
foreign friends so long as the latter
acted in good faith. We have a long
tradition of friendship With liberal
western powers. After the Turkish
revolution OF 1908. we were most
anxious to continue these relations.
.Rut here came our difficulty. These
powers (England and France) wish
ed TO maintain good relations with
the Russians who, without our seek
ing it. were hostile to us, and finally
the Russian influence became so
strong that every person favorable to
Turks in the French and English en-
bassies were drawn home by their
governments. I personally went to
the French and English ambassadors
and warned thonl that if this policy
were continued we should be driven
into a German alliance which would
injurc both the French and English
and ourselves. This warning had no
effect. and the Germans began to send
US big military missions. also our Off
GERS were trained in Germany. so We
entered the war on the German side.
IF the Americans don't come to uS
now. the end of it al may be q par
ti.ion leading 20 other vars in which
America may be involved. IT might
DC cheaper for America to risk mil
lions Oh us now rather than 70 spend
billions later on q new war
Asked if he were n partisan of the
Nationalist movement. the Prince an
swered: "a person in line for the |
throne can't become involved in par !
ticular movements but must repre-
sent his entire people
The interview ended by the Prince
saving: Now let me interview YOU.
1YrrI |