TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 16 April 1909, Page 2

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

To-'Jny caMe news regarding the affairs in Turkey developments throws n.ore light in upon tho situation. - Turkey. and the forces l)(i---neath th e recent changes have, to some extent, been revealed. It is evident that the fall of the Committee of Union and Progress, the authoritative body of the Young Turks, has been brought about by its principal opponent, the po-callcd Liberal Union. The great difference betw-een these two bodies is that the Young Turks ad/ocate a strong centralised Parliamentary Government, whereas the Liberal Union preaches decentralisation, with a sort of "Home Rule" all round for the different provinces of the empire. The Liberal Union became Hip nucleus of a loose coalition of tho non-Turkish elements of the people, and Kiamil Fasba practically identified himself with it. It wil! ba remembered that in yesterday's i.'sne it was pointed out that Kiami! — whose character is described as imperious — dismissed from his Cabinet the Ministers for V-'ar and Marne ; and when it is considered that these were the Young Turks' nominees, it is realised that he could not tolerate tho tute'flize of the secret committee. The Young Turks, fearing that if he remnino.J in power tho Liberal Union might develop into a powerful organisa. 'ion, promptly brought about, his downfall. At tho d»otini](, in July of last year the Committee nf T.'ni'.r. ! md Pr.-v grrf.-:. it will jot be for(.">Ur-i. Kcucd , in "overwhjiniin^ majority." In tb^e | ihcurr,ftanee3 the cable statin; ' tr.it Mi* majority of the Parlianv-nt lif:lonu'« io the C'otnmi'.tee o/thc Libpi.il Union" indicates a great change : and then so recent .->s February, at Kiatnil Va;-ha'F downfall, ,'t w.i« stated that thc -forces expected to conlofce round the T iberal Union disappea.-0.l 'When it i^ reK.emhered that scarcely a month before Kiamil's downfall, he' received tumultuous applause and a unani.nous vote of confidence, ;t is realised that the ] Turkish mood is plastic enough to per- . mit great changjs, and it alfo is impressed upon the mind that Kiamii must br- possessed with' a strong, wclldevulcped facuHy for leadership A question which irises is what hae he been uoing since his dvf^at? The cables j indicate unmistakably tha.t the Liberal ] Union has in turn superseded the < Committee of Union and. Progress. The ( Youiig Turks, as* mentioned jestudsy, ( wore successful owing to Ihe. aid of , the crmy. Th-;y expjSit<>d the power ] for political pu!*-josf3;»-an4 to a large ! «it(-nt her.ee ihtic fall. "The difii- £ culty of the situation is the extrenie \

antipathy towards the expelled officer?, who lately neglected their duties, and engaged in political wirepulling," cays a cablo to-daj ; and tins gives a . good indication of wiat has been going on. The developments in Turkey will be watched with interest by the whole world for some timo to come.