The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-31
THE TURKISH SIDE OF THE
QUESTION

QUESTION.
The Turkish minister at Washington did
a pretty good stroke of diplomacy when he
accorded an Associated Press correspond
ent an interview concerning the relations
between the United States and Turkey.
In talking for publication, though guarded
~. he has initiated the example of some
other foreign representatives at Washing
ton who have discovered that public opin-
ion is a great power in this country and
that the way to inform and affect it is
through the press. AS far as official COM
munications are concerned a foreign min
lister has access to the secretary of state
or the President, but they have learned that
the way to reach the people is through the
press. In this case the Turkish minister
talked to the people before calling on Sec
rotary Hay. What he said was in polite
and diplomatic language. but it will remind
Americans that there are two sides to every
question. There is no reason to doubt the
sincerity of his statement that the Turk
with the United States and will do all in
it's power to maintain them. Barring slow
ness to act on some occasions, it has al
ways shown a friendly disposition. The
report of the murder of the United States
vice consul at Beirut having proved to be
untrue mitigates what would have been a
serious matter, and If an attempt was made
on his life the minister says his govern
ment will do all in its power to apprehend
and punish the would-be assassin. 1t is
quite likely the whole affair may prove to
have been greatly exaggerated. In regard
to other pending questions the minister
says: "You must remember that my coun-
try is very much occupied at present, and
hope the Washington government will
appreciate this and not insist final
adjustment Of all pending controversies
until the interior troubles have been
quieted" Nothing could be more reason
able than that. The pending controver-
sies' referred to are not Of international
Importance. One grows out of demand
on our part for the admission of American
doctors to practice in Turkey, and the other
out of a demand for better treatment and
the minister says:
Ny government is very careful of the
kind or doctors IL licenses to practice. II
your government would itself approve the
diplomas of tho American schools of medi-
cine your physicians would be admitted
without examination. This is the reason
that the French and other European physi-
clans are admitted on certificate The med
zeal schools in those countries are under
the supervision, as it were, of the govern
"A licensed
practice n one State would not in some
cases be allowed to practice in another
own States discredit the quality of your
medical schools, is it surprising that my
government insists on examining American
physicians?
That comes pretty near leaving the Amer
lean claim without leg to stand on. With
the different schools and colleges fighting
one another in this country and different
standards of qualification in different
States. without any government standard,
we are in poor position to demand equal
rights and recognition for American physi-
clans in Turkey. On the missionary ques-
ton the minister talked equally to the
point. He said:
Do not understand me as adversely criti-
cising the missionary, for 1 must again re-
mind you that We are a tolerant people
| We have allowed the missionaries great
| liberties. and with what result? / read in
| the American papers frequently of what
| returned missionaries from Turkey have
| 10 say about wiping my country off the
map of Europe. I am advised that certain
| missionaries when they go to Turkey are
constantly arousing the Armenians against
| the Moslems. They even talk to the Arme-
/ mans about extermnating us. Is not that
| melting the Armenian subjects to rebellion?
! Suppose / should establish in Washington
a school for negroes and my teachers
should tell the negroes attending that
school that they ought not to submit to
| lynching and should rebel. Do you think
would remain in this country long or that
my school would flourish? This is a side of
| the question that is not often heard.
But We have the missionaries. and my
| government earnestly strives to protect
| them. 1t is merely justice, however, that
1 when the missionary comes to Turkey he
should confine himself to the religious and
intellectual training of his pupils, and not
their present form of government. 1 am
| sure you cannot expect us to encourage
the undermining of our government.
Such statement and argument as that is
| not easily answered. American mission
aries have been operating in Turkey for
many years. Not all of them are wise or
discreet. There is reason to believe that
some have been meddlesome and mischie-
vous. Those who go into remote districts
and turbulent communities to preach doc
trines offensive to the Turks. and do it in
an offensive way, really invite trouble II
the United States government cannot pre-
vent the mobbing of Italians and negroes
or prevent Christian communities from ex-
pelling Mormons. how can it expect the
Turkish government to extend complete
and adequate protection to foreign mis-
sionaries preaching strange doctrines in
such a way as to foment political disturb
ance? The Turkish minister has given
| Americans something TO think about
TWO NOT OF A KIND.
Almost simultaneously with the couyic.