The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-04
BIG INTERESTS IN TURKEY
Three Hundred American Educational and Phanopc
fans Domains Whose Properly Interests Exceed 100000

The author Of this article has been
intimately associated with American
missionary enterprise in Turkey since
1859. when he was sent out as a mis-
sionary by the American Board of
Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
For three years he was president of
Anatolia College C1S9O-3) mentioned in
the article. He has translated the BIZ
BILE into Turkish, is the author of
books on religion published in the
Turkish language, and in many other
ways has taken an active part in the
work of spreading Christianity
throughout the Sultans domains. 1t
is unnecessary to say that DR.. Her
rick is an authority on the subject
about which he ites.-Editor.
Frances Seizure of MityIene.
Some four years ago France seized
the Island of Mitylene. 1t was vigor-
Gus French plainly written for Otto
man reading. 1t meant: That long
pending question about the pecuniary
claims OF two of our citizens has hung
fre long enough. We will have it set
tied now. With this we will wipe off
old scores and clear our docket Vari-
Gus charitable institutions have been
established by French subjects in diff
ferent localities in Turkey in accord
with treaty engagements. These in
situations have constantly suffered
from captious objections to repairs of
buildings, or the erection of necessary
new buildings, and from veXatious Gus
tom House and police interference. All
such interference must henceforth
cease, and the institutions must be for
rnally and publicly recognized as hav-
ing a legal status.
This language, 50 uttered was un-
derstood. The demands of France were
acceded to- subsequently, with no re-
sort to other than diplomatic means,
Russia, Germany and Great Britain OBJ
tanned the same recognition for edu-'
cational, religious and charitable insti-
buttons established by Russians, Ger
mans and Britons. respectively.
Uncle Sans Demand on Turkey.
Nearly two years ago the govern
ment at Washington demanded,
through the ordinary diplomatic chan
nels, the formal recognition of Ameri-
can institutions, educational and phil
anthropic, which have been establish
ed in accord both with usage alb anti
quo and with treaty rights and obli-
cations existing between the Ottoman
and the United States governments
The demand was to have these insti-
tutions recognized as possessing a
legal status. and no longer exposed to
injurious intermeddling by ignorant
prejudiced or over-zealous officials.
our government said in effect to the
Sultan: we demand TO be treated
as you have treated your friends and
our friends across the water. viii
you accord us this right?" 1t seemed
at Washington too long to wait TWEEN
~ months for any answer TO so rea-
sonable demand. Hence the recent
order for the louder utterance.
American Interests in Turkey.
Our commercial and political inter-
ests in Turkey. though anteda ting
those interests Of a philanthropic ma
ture now under consideration. were,
and still are. on their own merits, al
most a negligible quantity. II is more
than seventy years since the first rep
resentatives of American Christian
philanthropy took up their residence
at the Turkish capital. For many
years thereafter no American institu-
lions existed there; no property inter-
ests required protection; American
citizens enjoyed the rights OF domicile,
or travel, Of prosecuting their beneVo-
lent work unhindered.
When. in February, 1903. a list OF
the American institutions whose legal
AEtoEuiAiOu was demanded was fuT-
rished TO the officials of the Sultan's
government, they were astonished TO
hnd in Turkey, including syria.
three hundred American institutions.
schools Of higher and lower grades
hospitals printing offices. chapels and
residences, and. / dare say many a
good American viii be astonished even
now 70 learn the extent Of these in
tercsts.
Great Property Interests.
The property interests involved ex-
coed several millions Of dollars There
b hardly an important center OF in
huence IA the country, on the seahoard
OF N the interior where American
Christian enterprise is not in evidence
These representatives. Of the clvillza-
ton ~ the West are. aud have alwayf
been, ecrupulauHly ohservant Of am
treaty oblisations, always and every
where. end by voice and pen lnculcate
ioyalty % their rulers % the people