THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13097, 23 April 1908, Page 7

THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE.

A MALIGN INFLUENCE AT CON-

STANTINOPLE.

United Prese Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, April 21. "The Times" that the Sul,iti of Turkey always acts in tht amo way, eaid kicks against he pricks, and so hurts hini*Ai cansidoraWy in conecquenno. Thx .ruth ie that Izzet Pasha is the powe) K>hmd the throne. He preaabeß re~ ;?tion and ooduracv. and has infkrejict io as powerful as it is malign. How h<. an continue t» prevail after repeatedly leading the Sultan into discomfitujx

,; nd humiliation its one of the mysteries of Ydldiz Palace.

A Greek subject of Aidul Hamad, writing eonio years ago in an English magazine, told two storice which show the in-fluenco lazet Pusha has with hie sovereign. The first secretary of an ouilxassy had a violent altercation with Izzet Pasta. Lite Sultan waa very desirous of reconciling the two, and in order to appeatso the secrotnry, co far forgot his dignity as to plead with hkn, and promise him all kinds, of compensation, ending, by taking; hie hands and begging him to forgive his favourite. Once, when ho thought the British fleet woaid attack OtxnBtantincple, he got ready for flight. At the suggestion of a Minister he sent Izwst Pasha to consult with the German Ambassador, and when Izaot returned with tiho oi-eiiranco that tho Kaiser would stand by his friend, the Sultan "almost knelt down before the favourite, co profuse was he in his assurance of hie gratitude and affection."

Turkey is largely governed by palace favourites. A correspondent of "The Times" declared last year that neither in the Army nor in the Administration was there any such thing as promotion by merit. Tc* got in, one must secure tibe protection of some official at thx> palace. Abuses were tolerated until they invited JSuropoan interference, and when that interference came it was deal* with by wire-pullcns at the palace, "wlu*o only idea of dTpJomacy is to begin by rejecting oven the most moderate demands, and to and by accepting even the most extravagant."