Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-19
Archbishop Mundesein

Constantlnopie, o lS-(By Inc
Associated Press).-The Turkish ma
ltionalists consider that Sultan Moham-
med VI, by his flight, has surrendered
the caliphate. according to Rafael Pa
sha, kemalist governor of CONSTANT
nople.
According to the MosIem 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."
Mohammed's departure on the British
d~readnaught Malaga in the face of
threatened trial for treason by the An
CORA government was compared by Ra-
fael Pasha to the flight of Damad Fe-
rid Pasha, former grand ~vizier. and the
other members of the opposition who
by their acts were compromised in the
eyes of the whole Turkish nation"
Great Britain's connivance in the
escape" he added, SIS fragrant inter
ference in Turkeys internal affairs
Rafael was much agitated. He spent
several hours following the escape in
frantically ~telephoning Angora for in
structions and taking precautions
against the flight of the members of the
sultan's cabinet and other high person
ages wanted by the ~nationalists.
Left by Back Door
The sultan left his palace by the back
door, 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 prepared to remove
him when he said the word. They ex-
planned, however. that the request for
safe conduct must come from him as
they could not be placed in the posi-
ton of having kidnapped him.
They also pointed out that he must
60 a reasonable distance from the pal
ace, as it was inexpedient to introduce
british guards into the grounds because
of the danger Of conflict with the KEN
alist soldiery there. The sultan agreed
to all of the conditions.
Only three persons in the palace
knew of the intended flight. namely.
the court chamberlain, the sultan's per
sonal physician and his bandmaster.
These were the only palace officials
he trusted, and he even kept his wives
in the dark as to his plans.
The flight was so carefully arranged
that the nationalist officers and sol
diers stationed in the palace grounds
did not learn of it until shortly before
the selamlik or prayer ceremony at
noon in which the sultan was to have
participated.
kemalists Surround Palace
All pedestrians and yehicular traffic
in the neighborhood of the palace was
then stopped and the palace was sur
rounded by nationalist military and
gendarmerie. Within the palace con-
%sternation -reigned among the sultan's
wives and eunichs.
At the selamlik a number Of Ameri-
cans waited in vain for the sultan's
ceremonial progress to the mosque The
only indication of ANYTHING irregular
was the presence Of additional KemaI-
ist soldiers in the palace, usually occu-
pied by the s,ltan's imperial guards
: Major Sherman Miles. American
military attarhe and the son Of Lien
tenant General Nelson Miles. was a
spectator at the selamik with his wife.
he inquired Of the sultan's aide as to
Mohammed's whereabout. to which the
aide replied: He is safe in the palace
but has a very bad cold and does not
think it safe to venture out" 1t was
apparent from the officers sincerity
that teven he was ignorant of his
chiefs escape, When An Associated
Press correspondent called at the pal
ace on Thursday the sultan made
known through a member of his court
his intention of remaining on the
throne. He declared the action Of the
Angora government in abolishing the
sultanate was invalid and was not sup
ported by his 300 GOO, 900 Moslem sub
jects in Indian and elsewhere.
He inquired through his chamber
lain regarding the sentiment of the
people of the United States whom he
held in admiration and esteem, and
begged the correspondent to deny re
ports of his abdication. He also asked
the American people not to believe all
the stories of Turkish atrocities,
The chamberlain replied his SOW
ereign was spending much time in
prayer and in preparing documents
to show himself blameless for the
have kept Constantinople under allied
control.
Called Highly Religious
The sultan is a highly religious
and patriotic man. said the cham
berlain. ''and has done nothing to re
fleet upon the Turkish nation. He
has acted throughout Turkeys long
period Of anguish according to the
dictates of his conscience and in con
sequence with the high and sacred pre-
cepts of his illustrious predecessor the
great prophet Mohammed. The sui
tan repeatedly told his friends that be
would not abdicate, and after his re
ception of Rafel Pasha last week he
held more steadfastly than ever his
determination to resist the efforts Of
the kemalists to Dust him
In that interview RafeI informed
Mohammed OF the Angora govern
ment's demand that he ~relinquish his
office, but he remained obdurate. The
governor is reported to have i%ntiinat-
ed to the sultan that he would be per-
forming y patriotic duty to the whole
AIarlnra .Ln..1l -