Constantinople! Yet he very soon established complete order, though after the peace he hopes for still greater perfection.
He was interested in the personality of Cardinal Gasparri, whom I had met for the first time. I found him a great contrast to Cardinal Merry de Val, with whom I had long discussions about Islam ten years ago.
Shrewdest of diplomats, keenest of observers, is there one move of the world's political chess-board he has not penetrated? Seeing, knowing, judging everything, could he make a mistake? In a State Church he would be a grave danger; but the days of State Churches are almost no more. As the Turkish minister remarked: "A Church needs more than anything a level-headed diplomatist having no connection with politics." The Cardinal, then, is far too clever a man to undervalue Islam.
He has studied the greatest living authorities, in translations when he cannot read the originals, upon all the wonderful books of the East, and listens to men learned in the Koran. In theology, as in politics, none could catch him napping. One may, perhaps, guess something of his opinions by listening carefully to such questions as he may put to you; for he tells you nothing and seems to gather up all you know almost before you are conscious of having spoken. I do remember, however, that he asked me what the Turks proposed to do about the Holy Tomb?
To this I answered that Djelaleddini Arif Bey had said: "There could be no decision taken about Palestine without consulting the Turks. This astute lawyer had always bidden the Catholic authorities to remember that Christ, according to the Koran, is of miraculous birth, is one of Islam's most venerated prophets. For the Moslem to blaspheme the Virgin Mary would be a heinous offence. To hand over the guardianship of the Holy Tomb to the Israelites is, therefore, a direct insult to Islam."
Fethi Bey also said: "We have all our work cut out looking after our own frontiers, yet we have always faithfully guarded the tomb of Christ, our prophet.
