File No. 10044/188.
Ambassador Leishman to the Secretary of State.
Constantinople, April 28, 1909.
Sir: I have the honor to report to the department with regard to the recent deposition of Sultan Abdul Hamid and the accession to the throne of his brother, Reshad Effendi, under the title of Mehemed the Fifth.
[Page 583]Already at the time of the revolution of last July there had been a strong sentiment in favor of removing the late Sultan from the throne. But his ready compliance in meeting all the demands made upon him by the party in power led many to believe that he had frankly accepted his new rôle as a constitutional sovereign and was contented to reign and no longer to govern. The suddenness of the mutiny of April 13 and the restoration of the Sultan’s power in the capital proved a surprise to everyone.
When the constitutional forces marched on the capital it was generally understood that the deposition of the Sultan formed part of their demands. But in the negotiations which were attempted prior to their entry all reference to this was avoided. His deposition, however, became a foregone conclusion after the resistance offered by the troops at Constantinople in the fight of April 24.
Once the garrison had capitulated, the fate of Yildiz was no longer open to doubt. But instead of storming the palace precincts, which had been deprived of the greater part of their defenders, the invading army preferred to reduce the Sultan’s last stronghold by famine. The water supply, gas, and electric light were cut off, and all food intended for the palace was intercepted. With starvation confronting them even passive resistance became impossible. Shortly after dawn yesterday, the 27th instant, the Sultan surrendered unconditionally to the constitutional army.
Parliament, which had met as a national assembly in secret surrender, was informed by the general in command of the surrender. It had been awaiting such notification in order to proceed to the Sultan’s deposition, which all members had for some days agreed upon. In accordance with previous precedent the Sheikh-ul-Islam, as the highest exponent of the sacred law, was asked to issue the decree regarding the unworthiness of Abdul Hamid to resign. The decree, or “fetva,” as it is termed, may be rendered as follows:
When the commander of the faithful suppresses certain important provisions of the “sheri” in the sacred books; when he forbids, tears, or burns such books; when he spends pr impairs the public treasure or seizes it contrary to sheri law; when, after having without legitimate cause killed, imprisoned or exiled his subjects and acquired the habit of committing other kinds of tyrannical acts, he has sworn to return to the path of righteousness, but has violated his oath and persists in creating great sedition capable of completely disturbing the situation and the affairs of Islam, and causes massacres;
If the Moslem community reduces him to a state of helplessness; if from all, parts of the Moslem world there continually come reports that he is considered as dethroned; if there is grave danger in maintaining him on the throne; and if to remove him would be for the public welfare;
Then is the decision binding of those who are competent to solve affairs of state, in the event of their deciding his abdication or deposition?
The reply is: Yes.
(Signed) Ziaeddine, Sheikh-ul-Islam.
This decision having been communicated to the national assembly, the latter, rejecting the proposition for his abdication, unanimously and amid a scene of great enthusiasm decided for his deposition. The motion dethroning him reads as follows:
The 7th Rébi-ul-Akhir, 1327, that is to say Tuesday the 14th Nissan, 1325, at half past 6 o’clock (i. e., April 27th, 1909, at about 1.30 p.m.), in a session of the Ottoman National Assembly composed of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, upon a proposition to choose between the dethronement and the voluntary abdication, two solutions indicated in the “fetva,” bearing the signature of the Sheikh-ul-Islam Mehmed Ziaeddin Effendi and read in the session, [Page 584] it was decided to dethrone Sultan Abdul Hamid II, and call to the Sultanate and Khalifate, the prince heir to the throne, Mehemed Reshad Effendi, under the name of Mehemed V.
Two delegations were at once appointed, the one to notify Abdul Hamid of his deposition, the other to escort the new sovereign. On learning the news of his downfall Abdul Hamid asked that his life and family be respected, and was assured that this would be done. He further requested to be permitted to pass his remaining days in the Palace of Tcheragan on the Bosphorus, where he had been born, and where his brother, Mourad, had so long been kept a prisoner. But this wish was refused him, and early this morning he was sent by special train to Saloniki.
Sultan Mehemed V learned the news of his accession to the throne with calm. Escorted by the delegation from Parliament he drove to the ministry of war, where he held his first official reception, and met the nation’s representatives. The firing of 101 cannon in different quarters of the city announced the change in reign, and Constantinople at once joyfully prepared to celebrate the holiday of an accession, and of a delivery from the former tyranny. The Sultan passed through the streets of his capital amid the enthusiastic cheers of the constitutional army and of the populace. Not a discordant note has thus far been struck. The calm dignity of the new ruler produced an excellent impression.
I have, etc.,