Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1392

 1340 TURKEY

Tegular formations for irregulars. The total present strength may be estima- ted at upwards of 100,000 men. Constantinople is occupied by Allied troops, mainly British and French ; the Ismid area by Greek troops under the British high command ; the Dardanelles by British troops at Chanak ; and French troops at Gallipoli ; the Smyrna and Broussa areas, and the whole of Thrace up to the Ghataldia lines by Greek troops ; Syria and part of Cilicia by French troops ; and Palestine and Mesopotamia by British troops.

By the Treaty of Peace, which was signed at Sevres on August 10, 1920, Turkey agreed to the dismantlement of all fortresses, including the defences of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus ; and to the reduction of her armed forces to an Imperial bodyguard of 700 men, a gendarmeri of 35,000 men and 'special elements' of 15,000 men. Compulsory service is abolished, Turkish soldiers have to serve for a period of 12 years, the number of officers is limited to 2,500 and they must serve for 25 years. All measures of mobilisa- tion are prohibited and no reserve forces are permitted. The Turkish air force is also abolished. The execution of the military clauses of the treaty is placed under the control of Allied Commissions, one of which is to include in its task the organisation of the future armed forces, including the gendarmeri. The gendarmeri is to be partly staffed with officers supplied by the various Allied or Neutral Powers. The police, which is to be independent of the armed forces contemplated in the Treaty, and is to form part of the civil administration, is also to include Allied or neutral officers.

III. Navy. By the terms of the Treaty of Sevres the Ottoman navy is abolished. A few gunboats and torpedo boats are permitted to be retained for fishery aud police duties.

Production and Industry.

Agriculture. — Land in Turkey is held under 3 different forms of tenure — namely, 1st, as 'Mlri,' or Crown lands ; 2nd, as ' Vakuf,' or pious foundations ; and 3rd, as ' Miilk, ' or freehold property. The first description, the ' miri,' or Crown lands, which form the largest portion of the territory of the Sultan, are held direct from the Crown. The Government grants the right to cultivate an unoccupied tract on the payment of certain fees, but continues to enjoy rights of seigniory over the land in question. The second form of tenure, the ' Vakuf,' comprises property dedicated for religious or charitable purposes (see under Religion and Education), and is the subject of a complicated and difficult system of law. The third form of tenure, the 'miilk,' or freehold property, does not exist to a great extent. Some house property in the towns aud of the land in the neighbourhood of villages is 'miilk.' The law also recognises two other categories of land — i e., land set aside for the general use ul the whole community or section of it (metruke) and 'dead' or unutilised land (mevat). The whole law of Ileal Property is in urgent need ol reform and modernisation. A commencement in this direction was made by a series of Provisional l^aw.s promulgated in 1913 and continued by legislative measures in 1918. This new landed property code provides for a general survey and revaluation of all landed property in the Kmpire, together with a readjustment of taxes ; for corporations to hold real estate in the name of the corporation ; for the mortgaging of property as security for debts ; lor the suppression of guedik (guild) property ; and for the ex- tension of the right of inheritance.

A large portion of the State revenue is derived from tithes on agricultural produce. The system of levying this is burdensome and oppressive, the