The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-18
TURKS RESENT
USE OF BRITISH
SHIP IN FLIGHT
Consider Sultan Has
Lost Authority
IN Assoclated Pressl

CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 1S.-The
Turkish Nat1onalists consider that
Sultan Mohammed VI by his flight has
surrendered the Caliphate according
to Raft Pasha, Kemalist governor at
Constantinople.
According to the Moslem law" he
told the associated Press when the
Sultan leaves Turkish soil and enters
Christian territory he places himself
under Christian protection and thereby
loses the Caliphate, ceasing to retain
any authority over the Moslems.
Mohammeds departure on the Brit
ish dreadnaught Malaga in the face OF
threatened trial for treason by the An
CORA government was compared by
Rafet Pasha to the flight of Damad
Ferid Pasha, former Grand Visier and
the other members of the opposition
who by their acts were compromised
In the eyes of the whole Turkish ma
tion."
Great Britain's connivance in the
escape" he added, SIS fragrant inter
ference in Turkeys internal affairs
Rafet Agitated.
Rafet was such aggitated. He spent
several hours following the escape. in
frantically telephoning Angora for in
structions and taking precautions
agains the members of the Sultan's
cabinet and other high personages
wanted by the Nationalists.
The Sultan left his places by the
backdoor, known as the Malta gate,
which heretofore has always been
sealed. The British for some time had
been aware of his anxiety and fear
for his personal safety, and were pre-
pared to remove him when he said the
word. They explained, however, that
the request for safe conduct must
come from him, as they could not be
placed in. the false position Of having
kidnapped him
Agreed To Condition.
They also pointed out that he must
ace. as it was inexpedient to intro
duce British guards into the grounds
because of the danger of conflict with
the Kemalists there. The sultan
agreed to all of these conditions.
Only three persons in the palace
hnew of the intended flight namely,
the court chamberlain, the sultan's per-
Fonal physician, and his bandmaster.
These were the only palace officials he
trusted toward the end, and he even
kept his wives in the dark as to his
plans.
The flight was so carefully arrang-
ed that the Nationalist officers and
soldiers stationed in the palace
grounds did not learn of it until short
ly before the Selamlik or prayer cere-
mony at noon in which the sultan was
to have participated.
All pedestrian and vehicular traffic
in the neighborhood of the palace was
then stopped and the place was sur
rounded by Nationalist military and
gendarmerie. Within the palace con-
sternation reigned among the sultan's
wives and eunuchs.
intended to Stay
When the Associated Press CORES
pondent visited the palace on Thurs
day. the sultan made known through
a member of his court his intention
of remaining on the throne. He de-
clared the action of the Angora gov
ernment in aboishing the sultanate
was invalid and was not supported by
his 300,000,000 Moslem subjects in
India and elsewhere. He inquired
through his chamberlain regarding the
sentiment of the people of the United
States whom he held in admiration
and esteem and begged the CORES
pondent to, deny reports of his abdica
tion. He also asked the American
people not to believe all the stories of
Turkish atrocities.
The chamberlain represented his SOW
ereign as spending much time in
prayer and in preparing documents to
show himself blameless for the events
of the last four years which have kept
Constantinople under allied control
Praises Sultan
THE sultan is a highly religious
and patriotic man." said the Chamber
lain, "ard has done nothing to reflect
upon the Turkish nation. He has
acted throughout Turkeys long period
Of anguish according to the dictates
of his conscience and in consonance
with the high and sacred precepts of
his illustrious predecessor, the Great
Prophet Mohammed.'
The sultan repeatedly told his
friends that he would not abdieate.
and after his reception of Rafet Pasha
last week he seemed more steadfast
than ever in his determination to re-
sist the efforts of the Kemalists to
oust him.
In that interview Rafet informed
Mohammed of the Angora govern
ment's demand that he relinquish his
office. but he remained obdurate. The
governor is reported to have intimated
to the sultan that he would be per
forming a patriotic duty to the whole
Moslem world by acceding TO the re-
quest, but the rulers reply was that
Angora was not representative OF
Moslem opinion.
Later. it is said, his closest friends
learned that threats had been made
against his life, and prevailed upon
him 10 reconsider his decisio not to
quit the capital.