THE YOUNG TURKISH PARTY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5667, 11 September 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE YOUNG TURKISH PARTY.

The advisers of the Sultan of Turkey are credited with an astute piece of official knavery which is credible only to those familiar with the crooked ways of Oriental rulers. When complaints were made against the police and soldiery at Constantinople in connection with the recent shocking massacres of Armenians, the arrest of several hundreds was ordered; but these prisoners, it was shrewdly suspected, all belonged' to the "Young Turkey" Party, so that, by making them the scapegoats the Sultan doubtless hoped to appease the incensed Powers, and to strike a blow at the party of reform. The Young Turkey Party was formed five years ago in Constantinople; and though it has had to transfer its headquarters to Paris, it has still a secret committee in the Turkish capital, and has many adherents in the army, and even in the Sultan's Palace. Ahmed Kiza, a leader of the party, who stays in Paris because there is a sentence of death hanging over him in Turkey, lately visited London, and was interviewed by a reporter of the Pall Mall Gazette. To show that mild constitutional agitation is a capital offence in Turkey, it is only necessary to quote his remarks as to the aims of the party. " I would wish it to be thoroughly understood/' )ie said, " that we are not revolutionaries; that we respect all laws and religious creeds ; that we have no animosity towards any one Power ; that we are united in demanding the integrity of the empire, the maintenance of the dynasty of Othman, the strict and loyal execution of the Hatti Gulhane and the Hatti Humayoun; the observance of all treaties, conventions, firmans and concessions, as well as, above all things, the re-establishment of the Constitution." As to what would happen in the event of the death, deposition or abdication of the present Sultan, Ahmed Eiza said : — " Our first care would be to exert our influence to maintain order, to prevent a reckless outburst of popular fury. We would endeavour that everything should take place peaceably. Then we would demand of the Sultan's probable successor and younger brother, Kechid Effendi, the reestablishment, or rather the convocation, of the Turkish Parliament, which was wrongfully suppressed by the present Sultan. JJeuhid Effendi, I may say, is already gained over to our cause, and has promised that our just claims shall be granted on his accession to the throne." Judging from the remarks of this gentleman, it would seem that were " Young Turkish " ideas to prevail there would be a chance of prolonging the Ottoman Empire in Europe ; but, as the palace influence is inveterately opposed to reform, the probabilities are that the Turkish sway in Europe will come to an end within the next decade.