Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1385

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 1333

and Alxlul-IIamid II. proceeded to build tip an a': re complete than

tiiat of his predecessors, but in inOS the prevailing discontent, especially in the army, caused by corruption a,:d mi-government • ompelled him to issue an Imperial decree for the convocation of a new Parliament, and con- stitutional government was restored July 23, 1908. The Constitution now theoretically in force is that of 1876, somewhat modified in its details by legislation subsequent to 1908.

The Sena'e is a permanent body, but can only sit concurrently with the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber in existence at the time of the Armistice with Turk- ved on December 21, 191 S. A new Chamber, which

assembled on January 12, 1920, was di April 11, 1920, by a decree

which ordained that new elections should be held within 4 months, as laid down in the Constitution. The abnormal situation has rendered this impossible. The Constantinople Government has governed without ■ Parliament since April, 1920, but the 'Great National Assembly' sitting at Angora exercises the functions of a Parliament, besides those of supreme Kxeeuthv authority, in the tie facto Government set up by Mustafa Kemal Pasha at that pi

The present Cabinet (April, 1921), took office on October 21, 1920, and, taking into account minor chant bat date, is at pr- [toted

as follows : —

Grand Vizier. — Tewfik Pasha.

Sheikh-til- Islam. — Nouri Efendi.

Minister of Foreign Affairs. — Sefa Rey.

Minister of Justice. — Arif Hikniet Pasha.

Minister of War. — General Zia Pasha.

Minister of Finance. — Abdullah Bey (Acting).

M inister of Public Instruction. — Rashid Hey. iter of Public iVorks. — Abdullah Bey.

Minister of Commerce and re, — rlussem Kiazim B

Minister of Pious Foundations. — Left Vacant, with Sherkh-ul-Islam in charge.

Subjects of Western Powers resident in Turkey enjoyed ex-territorial privileges from time immemorial, under treaties called Capitulations. The greatest single change introduced in 1914 was the abolition by a decree of the Sultan of these Capitulations (September 9, 1914). It had long been felt that these privileges needed revision, especially in so far as they exempted foreigners from the fiscal burdens of Ottoman subjects, but their abolition by an unilateral act gave rise to an unanimous protest of the Powers, and no Power had, at any rate publicly, assented to it up to November, 1914. This step, which included the suppression of foreign l\^t Offices and that of the International Board of Health, was taken in September, after the out- break of the European War. and the condition of Europe made the protest of the Powers academic rather than effective for the time being. During the war the Central Powers recognised the/oil accompli and entered into new Treat? arrangements with the Porte. The other Powers have, however-, maintained their attitude. The Treaty of Sevres makes a \ision

foi the revival of the capitulations rn favour of ail Allied Powers, but aims at the eventual establishment of a judicial and fiscal system under which the capitulations will disappear.

Local Government.

The whole of the empire is divided into Vilayets, or governments, the«e subdivided into Sanjaks, or minor provinces, these into Kazas, or districts, with occasional subdivision into Nahies, or sub-districts. A Vali