The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-11-18
SAYS BRITISH
INTERFERING
In the Internal Affairs of
Turkey BY Aiding
Sultan
KEMALISTS WERE
WHOLLY OUTWITTED
--
They Are Now Striving to
Prevent Escape of
Cabinet

Constantinople, Nov. is tBy the AS
sociated Press The Turkish nation
alists consider that Sultan Mohammcd
vi by his flight has surrendered the
caliphate, according TO Rafet Pasha,
kemalist governor of Constantinople.
According to the Moslep 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 Brit
ish dreadnought Malaga in the face OF
threatened trial for treason by the AN
CORA government was compared by
Rafet Pasha to the fight Of Bamad
Ferid Pasha, former grand yisier, and
the other members of the opposition
why by their acts were compromised IN
the eyes of the whole Turkish nation"
.Great Britain's connivance in the
escape" he added, lis fragrant inter-
ference in Turkeys internal affairs"
Rafet was much agitated. He spent
several hours following the escape in
franticaily telephoning Angora for in
structions and taking precautions
against the flight of the members Of
the sultan's cabinet and other high
personages wanted by the nationalists.
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 explaineds however, that the re-
quest for safe conduct must come from
him. as they could not be placed In the
false position Of having kidnapped him.
They also pointed out that he must
60 reasonable distance from the pal
ace, as 1t was inexpedient to introduce
British guards into the grounds be-
cause of the danger Of conflict with the
Kemalist soldiery there. The sultan
agreed to all of the conditions.
The flight was so carefully arranged
that the nationalist officers and sol
ders 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. When the Associated
Press correspondent visited the palace
ON Thursday the sultan made known
through member of his court his in
tention to retain his throne.
The sultan repeatedly told his
friends that he would not abdicate, and
after his reception of Rafet Pasha last
week he seemed more steadfast than
ever in his determination TO resist the
efforts Of the Kemalists TO oust hirn.
Later, it is said. his closest friends
learned that threats had been made
against his life, and prevailed upon him
to reconsider his decision not to quit
the capital
The KemaIists to-day took measures
to guard the famous palace containing
the precious relics of the caliphate and |
the priceless gifts to the sultan and his |
from world monarchs |
since the time Of the prophet
On all sides the pressing question
to-day was as TO what action the An
CORA government would take as the re-
suit of the sultan's fight.
Extremist Turks said the situa ton |
created might lead to the withdrawal
Of the nationalist delegation from the
Lausanne conference and the march of |
4 Kemalist army upon the capital
More temperate Moslems expressed |
belief that the nationalist authorities |
would regard the fight as an unpless- |
ant and irritating incident, but one |
which none the less afforded a solution
IF the question of the sultan's fate.
All were emphatic in voicing belief
hat the British participation in the
escape of the caliph would provoke se-
Tere protests from the national assem-
bly, as constituting an unwarranted in
reference with Turkish. internal af-
iairs.