The Washington herald., 1922-11-18
Flight Follows Word
From Angora He Would
Be Put on Trial.
DESERTS HAREM;
SON GOES WITH HIM
Nationalists Aver He Dis
gracefully Yielded to
Allies After War.

CONSTANTINOPLE. Nov. 16.-The
last of the Sultans-Mohammed VI
has fed Constantinople on a Brit
fish warship fearful Turkish Ma
tionalists wculd take his life.
The flight of the Sultan under the
protection of the British followed
receipt Of word from Angora. the
seat of the Kemalist government. that
the national assembly had decided
to place Mohammed en- trial
In contrast to the trials of "the
war guilty" in Germany, the Sultan
is classed as one of the peace
guilty" in Turkey. At the door OF
the Sublime Porte is placed the
charge that he and his ministers
were responsible for acquiesence to
the treaty of Sevres. which was an
ignominious peace for Turkey. ban
ishing her from Europe.
Leaves Harem Behind.
Mohammed. who left his harem
behind in the ramshackle palace
where he has lived in comparative
poverty as the guest of the allies
since the end of the war was ac-
companied, in his flight by his son,
Prince Erlogrul Effendi. and a few
faithful retainers. They stole away
in an auto and were taken to the
British battleship Malaga.
The Sultan, who has stated stead
fastly he would not relinquish his
Office even in face of the action of
the Turkish assembly in abolishing
the sultanate. said as he was re-
ceived by Admiral Brock of the Brit
ish navy: Il am not abdicating but
am merely seeking refuge"
1t was stated he will receive in
structions from the British after he
arrives at Malta. his destination.
Has Reason to Fear for Life.
Mohammed has every reason to
fear for his life. Many of his pred
ecessors have been assassinated by
political enemies.
The fleeing caliph has had prac-
tically no voice in the affairs of his
country since 1918 when he was es-
tablished in Constantinople under
the protectorate of the allies. 1t
was then that the Nationals repu-
dated him and moved the seat Of
government to Angora.
The Sultan was the last relic OF
the Ottoman Empire which has been
decadent for years.
In its place has arisen government
of the grand national assembly at
Angora-
That the United states is to exert
an important influence at the Lau-
same conference on Near East Ques-
tions and ultimately will be dis
closed as helpful in bringing about
a solution of the difficult situations.
is the conviction of leaders of the
Harding administration.
In making known this view of
the administration with respect to
the Forthcoming conferences. the
statement was authorized that the
President views as preposterous the
continued suggestions from peace
advocates and churchmen that the
United States should send an armed
force abroad to enforce peace in the
Near East.
The United States. it was stated.
wo Id not undertake to sit on the
lid and guarantee the peace of the
world in a quarter which has been
scene of conflict for more than
1000 years, and the President, his
spokesman declared. is at loss to
understand the curious contradic-
tion of thought in presumably in
telligent American public opinion
which breaches peace one day and
war the next.
The United states, it was pointed
out, is not going about brandishing
the sword. even ct the command of
the church. Even If the administra-
tion did desire to send troops
abroad. it could not do so with
out the consent of Congress, and
the President is not laboring under
any delusion that Congress is tug
g,nE at the leash to go to war.
The United States is not asking
anything in a territorial way in the
Near East and will not take part
in discussion of territorial ques-
tions at Lausanne. This govern
ment will stand up at Lausanne for
the protection of its commercial
rights and for the protection of
racial and religious minorities. it
was declared. The administration
believes treaty to which the
United States will be a party, prob
ably will be made with the Turkish
government in which all these
rights will be recognized.
DR.. Rupert B. Blue,it wa s an
nounced yesterday. has been ordered
10 proceed to Lausanne by the Pub
lie Health Service, where his expert
advice will be available to the
Turkish peace conference should
questions of public health and sani-
tation be brought up.
oDHr rrrDH yYynT0rrr