THE TURKISH SUCCESSION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 5

THE TURKISH SUCCESSION.

By the law of succcssion the Sultan is succeeded by his oldest son only in is no uncle nor cousin of greater age. The present Sultan has three brothers. Tho hoirapparent is Mehoinmed-licshad Effendi, born in 184-4, the other brother being Suleiman Effenili'(born in I860), rind Wahid-TJddm Effendi (born in, 1801). ,• The Sultan's eldest son is Mehmmed-Selim Effendi, born in IS7O. Somo time ago the Paris correspondent or the London "Tribune" wrote:— , . I am informed from an undeniably trustworthy source that the attitude of Germany towards the question of the Turkish succession has been-completely ■ modified. It is of public notoriety that the Berlin Chancellery favoured the Palace intrigues at Constantinople for the substitution of Burham Eddin Effendi, the fourth son of Abdul Ilamid, for Rechad Effendi, Abdul Hamid's brother, who is the rightful heir to the' throne in accordance with the tradition, dating back as far as IGI7, that tho oldest mombor of the Imperial family shall always occupy the throne. Burhan Eddin Effendi, who was educated in Germany, and is said' to be a favourite with the Emporor.'William, was, rightly or wrongly, regarded. as likely, if he succeeded his father, to further tho realisation of Gorman ambitions in both European and Asiatic Turkey, to tho detriment of tho interests of the other The idea of altering tho order of succession having met with determined opposition in : tho Ottoman Empiro itself, and tho German' Government having probably recognised that it had but little chance of success tho Gorman Chancellery has now abandoned its projecti and-is seeking to propitiato tho Liberal' Turks by favouring tho idea of the adoption of a constitutional rogime under the rightful Sovereign, In this connection it is df importance to noto the testimony whioh comes from all the political parties in Constantinople relative to tho growing and, now, it is believed, irresistiblo movement in 'favour of a Constitutional Government. Perhaps tho most convincing proof of the strength of that movement which I have seen was containod in a letter frmii a high official of the Porto to Haydar' Midliat Bey. "Will yOu follow tho ideas of your father," it ran. "and take the lead of (lie movement of the Ulotjias? If yon will, it is certain that the (treat majority of the people will support you. Thero is 110. doujit that Eechad Effendi, on coming to the throne, will receive the Midliat Constitution, whioh, however, requires modification,. additions, and retrenchments. I bog you to inform .me of your ideas on those points, because if you will undertake the work you will to-morrOw bo to Turkey what Kessuth was fo Hungary. Tho application of a Constitution is not, however, enough. ' It is requisito to adopt other reforms, and it is also to realiso them that yon can work usefully for jour'country. Will you undertake this difficult'but eminently patriotio-task?" >