KING TO SULTAN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 305, 18 September 1908, Page 7

KING TO SULTAN.

. ft CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO TURKEY THE CONSTITUTION. TRIBUTE TO KIAMIL—THE TURKS PLEASED. (by telegraph —PRESS association—copyright.) (Rec. September 17, 11.25 p.m.) London, September 17. King Edward has telegraphed to the Sulton Abdul-Hamid, as follows: — "I beg your Majesty to accept my most warm congratulations oil the first anniversary of your Majesty's accession since the promulgation of tho Turkish Constitution. " I havo every reason to hope that raider the able direction of so eminent a Grand Vizier tho Turkish Empire will have a peaceful and prosperous future, and that tho veneration of posterity will be secured to your Majesty." King Edward's telegram has produced an excellent impression in Stamboul (Constantinople). Tho flattering referenco to the Grand Vizier, Ismail Kiamil Pasha, is especially gratifying to the Turks. King Edward also telegraphed his congratulations to the Sultan on his birthday (which falls on September 22, his accession day being August 31). KIAMIL ESCAPES. SHELTERED 'BY BRITAIN. Under tho now regime the Turkish Premier, or Grand Vizier is Ismail Kiamil Pasha, who years ago, as Grand Vizier, made powerful enemies at tho Palace by constantly protesting against the interference of the Palace in the government. He even went so far as to recommend the Sultan to put the Constitution in force; that is, to do voluntarily what the Sultan has now been forced to do through fear of the army's revolt. But the_ Palace clique, now ejected, was at that time too strong, and Kiamil Pasha was compelled to take refuge in tho British consulate at Smyrna till things 'were quieter. At various times Kiamil has lived in exile, largely in England. During the recent revolution his headquarters. wore at Serres, in Macedonia, where he plotted and planned, and tlience dispatched his orders to the officers of tho army and the reformers ho had brought under his sway. The first strands of the web of revolt were spun from London and Paris, in both of which cities Kiarail Pasha is well known. Kiamil Pasha is G5 years of age, an Albanian by birth, Christian by origin, Moslem by conviction. At 17 Kiamil entered the Turkish Government service in a very subordinate capacity, but by assiduity and perseverance attained the position of second secretary to tho Imperial Ottoman Embassy in London. After remaining in England somo two or threo years .he returned to Turkey and was created 1 a Councillor of State. It is said that during tho. Transvaal war Kiamil, accompanied by] about 20 others, went to tho British Embassy in Constantinople, and made prayers for the success of the British arms—an action which further embroiled him at' the Palace. The Constantinople correspondent* of the "Daily Mail" tells a story of an escape which ■Kiamil made from his enemies. Ho bad been appointed Governor of Tripoli, but "considered this to be merely an attompt to hoodwink him, and determined upon flight from Turkey. But he knew that ho was watched. Accordingly, he accepted the appointment, and ostensibly made preparations for .departure to Tripoli. At that time he had a house at Arnautkeui on the Bosphorus, and also 'occupied rooms in Pora. One evening in May, about nine years ago, lie, having paid somo visits in the city, instead of going homo went to his rooms iu Pera, and carrying a light into tho bedroom, pulled down tho blind. and commenced to go through all the ceremony of disrobing, as if ho wero retiring to rest, taking good caro that his shadow should bo thrown upon the blind. The police, who were watching carefully, noted all this, and believed that he was safo for the night. "About 1 a.m.,. however, Kiamil emerged from tho house, completely disguised, and walked up to Taiim, where a carriago was in waiting which drove him to a small landing place near to Arnaut-keui, where a boat manned by English marines was, awaiting him. In this boat lie was rowqd to "the English guardship, and three' days later was taken to a British steamer bound for London."