6 FEBRUARY 1909, Page 28

Five Mansions of the House of Othman. By Mark Sykes.

(N. G. Morison, Leeds. ls.)—These papers, originally published In the Yorkshire Post, are written with uncommon force and spirit. Mr. Sykes is not hopeful about the Young Turks. The "Palace" at Constantinople has triumphed over many reformers and will, he thinks, triumph yet again. The Constitution which the new men have borrowed from Midhat is not likely to work. A talking establishment at Constantinople will do nothing : the "Mansions" must be ruled locally. These said "Mansions "—Turkey in Europe, Syria, Armenia, Kurdistan, and what we may call for short Mesopotamia—are described in a most vigorous fashion. When we read about Damascus we might be reading " Eothen." Mosul, which is in the author's black books, and doubtless for good reason, is a curious contrast. The pamphlet shows in every place the character of its origin—it is journalistic to the last degree—but it is excellent reading.