South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-25
MECCA'S TREASURY
NEARLY DEPLETED
AMBASSADOR SAYS
Envoy is in Japan Pleading
For the Cause of Religion,
He Declares.

TOKYO. June 24-To plead the
cause Of a deserted Mecca. Sheik
siddik Elkadiri. envoy from Russian
I. king Of the Arabians. is in Japan.
Sheik Elkadiri is Mohammedan,
, an it is the cause of religion. not
politics-he mentioned this fact first
as If TO relieve himself OF any stigma
that brings him 10 the cities Of
China and Japan.
It is regarding the age-old custom
OF Mohammedans from all parts OF
the world 10 visit the sacred city Of
Mohammed once every year that
brought the sheik 10 Tokyo. Mo
hammedans. OF whom there are sixty
million in China and thirty million
IN Russia, be they the poorest or the
richest. feel that they have not full
filed their obligations 10 the Great
Prophet" unless they journey at least
once during their lifetime TO Mecca.
The wealthy Mohammedan. it is
known. often makes the trip once
every year, the time being arranged
so that the city Of Mecca is reached
in August. Wars in China and revo-
lutions in Russia have made il i'm
possible for the Mohammedan to
make his pilgrim age 10 the city. the
sym boliCal sign OF which is the cres-
cent
It was no uncommon thing" said
Sheik Elkardiri in Tokyo recently.
~befors the great war, for 300. 600
Mohammedans to fiji the city of Nee
ca each August In 1913 there we're
$50. 600 and in 1914 there were 300. r.
600. During the years Of the war
there were never more than $4,000.
and last year during the month Of
August. 1900 came
Needs the Money
What particularly concerns the
king Of the Arabians, or rather the
king Of the Hejas the only independ-
ent section of Arabia. is the matter
of relieving Mohammedaps who are
unable 10 obtain passports annually
from Japan and Russia The an
nual visits Of the pilgrims 10 Mecca
are the chief source of income 10 the
town. Each pilgrim must bring a
pound 10 the king representing IS.
and it can be seen that in the days
when 500 600 OF these pilgrims visit
cd the city OF Mecca. IL was more
profitable 90 the king and 20 the
country than today. when $4,000 are
able % get there.
Wars in China and revolutions in
Russia. added 20 the natural fear Of
governments that dangerous charac-
ters might ne applying for passports.
have made IL almost impossible for
NIohammedans from China and from
Russia 20 get started home for the
annual visit 10 the city of Mohsm-
med II is necessary for them 10
start I'm May If they are 10 reach
Mecca in August. and so. while we
hope 10 have arrangements made for
passports this year. we doubt very
much II We will get the arrange
ments made this year"
Asked regarding Mohammedans in
Japan. Sheik Elksdiri said that there
were none. bur that his object in
coming here was 90 arrange for his
countrymen TO leave by japanese
ports
Consulates must be established in
NHarbin. IN shanghai and in Tokyo. d"
said the sheik II have made appli-
cation in China and I will see Count
Uchida while I am in Tokyo Re
turning 10 Shanghai. I viii get word
Of the fnal decision. which ] have
reason 20 believe viii be favorable.
and VIII then send word 10 King
Hussain. II am successful in China
and Japan. I hope by 1922 90 have
the first consulates ever opened in
this part OF the world by Arabia es-
tablshed. I may be stationed in
Shanghai or in Tokyo. The consul
ates will be small establishments.