TURKEY A REPUBLIC

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11664, 31 October 1923, Page 8

TURKEY A REPUBLIC

KEMAL FIRST PRESIDENT. OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION. AtMtraiian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 30, 8.40 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, October 29. A telegram from Angora says that the Majority Party has proclaimed Turkey a Republic, with Mustapha Kemal Pasha as President. Radical changes have been made in the government of Turkey within tho last three years. The last Parliament in Constantinople dissolved in April, 1920, and no attempt was made to convoke another. On January 20th, 1921, the Grand National Assembly at Angora introduced a law declaring that sovereignty belonged to the people, and that all power, both legislative and administrative, was vested in the Grand National Assembly, as the sole representative of the people. The old name, “Ottoman Empire,” was discarded. In November of last year the Assembly passed a resolution declaring that the office of Sultan had ceased to exist, hut providing for the continuance of the office of Caliph.- The Sultan shortly afterwards left Constantinople on hoard a British warship, and his only cousin was immediately elected Caliph. Until now, Kemal Pasha has been President of the Assembly, and also commander-in-chief of the army.