New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-19
WHITEWAsHING THE ALLIES
Real War Motive Not Concealed by
Religious Coating, Says Correspondent

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. There Is In this country at the
nresen, time an almost universal readi-
ross IN nsint the Balkan States all white
and Turkey all black. Men approve ana
applaud those plucky little hngoo'hs-
a population OF ten millions altogether
for the vigor they have shown IN their
"phtlanthropic and religious enterprise
now crowned with success. But pure
white and Jet black are rare In world pol
tics.
My lifelong residence among the Turks.
mainly at their capital, has reVeaIeu
many attractive qualities in people sore
~ oppressed and, til four years ago.
homeless for their future. Almost with
the dawn of a new hope one Christian
power SEXES her African possessions.
Before she could take breath four pow
ers. with fresh armies and ample prepa-
ration, Invade her country at four differ
ent points.
Philanthropy and religion have been by
those four states exploited for all they
are worth IA motives In the inception or
the war. but in fact they have not been
the real motives. nor has revenge for
Turkish oppression in past centuries been
the chief motive force. Territorial ex-
pansion, 10 lnclude their fellow country
men In Macedonia, and the Increase OK
their political influence in Europe have
been tho objects sought.
Rut those Balkan States have not leaped
with ono bound out OF semi barbarism
into the ranks OF high Christian civiliza-
ton. The conduct of the war in bloody
slaughter and IN atrocities perpetrated
hy the allied armies az we'll as by Turk
n soldiers is proof OF this.
Chrlstendom has in recent years been
horriaed over the massacres OF Christian
subjects OF the Ottoman Empire. Those
massacrcs were the result Of the latent
ferocity OF human nature set aname by
religious fauaticlsm under imperial order
But one Christian power" has in recent
years successfully rivalled the Turks IN
the slaughter Of peaceful subjects. in
Odessa and on the Amoor River. Those
living In glass houses should not throw
stones.
Turkey has been recognized by the Eu-
ropean powers as an independent state.
and she is. with them, co-signatOry OF the
Hague agreements
a group Of Turkish patriots lately I'M
dertook the herculean task OF establishing
n constitutional government IN the place
Of a despotism which had almost crushed
out the life Of all races OF the Ottoman
Empire Impatient with the mistakes
made by the new regime. first Italy and
then the Balkan States jumped upon Tur-
key before II was possible for her-too
few-wise and capable patriots 10 fpake
good In the stupendous task they had
heroically undertaken
Constantinople and her Tchataldia de-
fences are left to Turkey at the close OF
the war. The allies demand the surrender
OF Adrianople. Turkeys ancient capital.
but the defence OF that citadel has been
stubbornly maintained and IT ought to he
left 10 Turkey. II would be OF small ad-
vantage for her 10 retain Yanina or AL
bantam Scutari when the rest OF her Eu-
ropean possessions are taken from her.
How the allies will divide the spells
OF war how keep peace among them
selves amid violent racial rlvalries. how
placate the sensibilities Of the greater
IO"'iS VI ISuIopc' VIII 10 pEobitIl sur
fciently difficult OF solution by the ablest
statesmen ~ the period II economic
reasons did not powerfully reinforce
the arguments for peace. the danger of
renewed hostillties as shown by the lat
est foreign news Is a danger that Sc
riously threatens any hopeful issue of
the deliberations now going on In London.
GEORGE T. HERRICK.
New York Dec II 1912