20 JANUARY 1912, Page 2

The first Turkish Parliament was dissolved on Thursday. The causes

and the results of the dissolution are admirably stated in an article in the Time's of the same day. The dissolution is the direct outcome of. the growing discontent in the Chamber with the Committee of Union and Progress, which culminated in the formation of the new party of Union and Liberty. By holding the elections for the new Parliament at a time when they still have their hand upon the administra- tive machine, the Committee hope to secure for themselves a new lease of power. Said Pasha has also been anxious for some time to free himself from the interference of the Chamber in order that be might be able to conclude peace with Italy. This is shown by the attempt he recently made to amend the Constitution by giving power to the Sultan to dissolve Parlia- ment for two months in case of war. Since the new Parliament will not assemble for three months, Said has a free hand for an even longer period than he had hoped. It remains to be seen how far he will be opposed by the Committee in his determination to end the war, whether be can succeed in doing so in spite of their opposition, and whether the peace will come in time to save Turkey from the internal disruption with which she is threatened.