The Neues Wiener Tagblatt of September 24th publishes reports of
conversations with Mahmud Chefket Pasha, the new commander of the Salonika Army Corps, and with Major Enver Bey. Mahmud Chefket Pasha observed that their country was already large. " We have enough, and do not bother about Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Eastern Rumelia, which we no longer possess." The remarks of Enver Bey, who, after Niazi Bey, is perhaps the most romantic figure among the Young Turks, •were very striking. " The Sultan loves life. Badly advised, he has used it hitherto to the detriment of the country. His old entourage could not guarantee his life. Through us he has the sole possible guarantee since he embraced Liberal ideas. Among ns he is safe. We have, moreover, people in his vicinity who convince themselves of the trustworthiness of his intentions." There, is an economy of words here worthy of Tacitus. Yet how absolutely clear is the meaning. Note the use of the present tense in the last sentence. We are not told that they are convinced, but that they "convince themselves," of the Sultan's good intentions. What would happen if the Sultan ceased for any reason to be able to convince the people in his vicinity we are not told specifically, but the inference is not difficult.
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