An interesting letter appeared in Wednesday's Times from an anonymous
correspondent signing himself " Vekil," who puts forward a possible solution of the administrative diffi- culties which await the Turks in Asia. He begins by emphasizing the fatal results of a collapse of Asiatic Turkey, and demands decisive action from the Ottoman Government and practical assistance from the Powers. His scheme of reform falls into two parts, financial and administrative. With regard to the former he suggests the establishment for a fixed period of a joint commission of finance supplied by the Powers and responsible to the Sultan alone, having full control of the raising of the whole of the Imperial revenues. As to administration, " Vekil" suggests the division of the Empire into six areas. In five of these he suggests that a European Inspector-General with full executive power and two European assistants should be appointed, while the rest of the personnel should remain as at present. In the sixth area, which would include the central portions of the Empire, a model administration should be set up, in which all the principal officers should be Europeans. By means of this plan " Vekil" hopes that, while financial reform would be immediate and would extend over the whole Empire, admini- strative reform would be begun in the central area and would gradually radiate to the outlying provinces.
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