New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-30
DIFFERS WITH RUSSIAN BEY
Author of "Haremlik" Discusses
Egean Islands and Warships.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue OF the I'D the
new Turkish Ambassador, Russian Bey,
is quoted as saying:
"ff the American politicians desired
to take their stand on the merits OF
the quarrel between Turkey and Greece
| would explain that the bone of con-
tention between the two countries IS
the islands of Mytilenc and Chios and
three minor islands guarding the en-
trance TO the Dardanelles. Turkey in
signing the London Conference left the
question of the fate of these islands,
which were occupied by Greece during
the war, in the hands of the powers,
provided that the solution arrived at
did not affect her vital interests The
powers decided that Mytilene and Chlos
should remain in the hands of Greece
and that the three islands at the en-
trance to the Dardanelles should revert
to Turkey. Turkey has not assented to
this decision, claiming that Mytilene
and Chios are as necessary to her Sc
curity as the smaller islands. There is
not the shadow of doubt that if she
remained in possession of these islands
Greco would use them as basis for
every kind of enterprise against Fur
key, at whose expense she cherlshes
openly imperialist designs. Turkey,
which will live and take the place due
10 her among the nations of the world,
cannot submit to this. She Is ready
to give the islands a very liberal au-
tonomy, but they must revert to her.
Il is q question of life and death to
her TO get them back"
As a matter of fact, the contention
between Turkey and Greece at the pres
cnt moment is not at all these islands.
| am, and have always been, great
friend of the Turks, and If an appre-
citation of their best traits is to survive
among Europeans il is partly due, !
believe, to my books, "Haremlik" and
"A Child Of the Orient" On the other
hand. knowing as we'll as ! do the con-
ditions in Turkey, | cannot let the as
sertiOns of Russian Bey stand without
explaining the real cause of the present
trouble between the two countries.
Ever since the Young Turks came
into power their policy has been not
to give constitutional rights to all
Turkish subjects equally-as they had
sworn to debut to make merciless
war upon their Christian subjects. The
first expression of this was the massa-
ere of the Armenians at Adana; the
second was a terrific boycott to which
they subjected all Greek things a few
years ago. This boycott crippled Tur-
key quite as much as II did Greece and
proved how near-sighted the new gov
Crnment was.
The present trouble between the two
countries is due exactly TO this attitude
of the government. The Greek sub
jects Of Turkey to-day are being sub
jccted 20 I'll manner of i'll treatment.
NJ. Yeni clos, the Greek Premier, who
has SHOW / himself to be a calm, cor
ciliatory and discreet statesman, was
forced only few days ago openly to
declare that Greece could not remain
indifferent to the treatment of her peo-
pie in Turkey.
As to Russian Bey's contention that
Turkey cannot abide by the decision OF
the great powers and permit Greece TO
have the two islands, Chios and MYTH
lene, because these islands are neceE-
sary to her security, | should answer
that the security of Turkey as a Euro
pcan nation no longer depends on her
possession of this or that strategic
point, but solely on the attitude Of the
great powers 20 her.
huSltI DE. tlsO lndk
will live to take the place due her
among the nations of the world" No
one would rejoice more than I TO see
Turkey take her place among the civil
lied rations OF the world; but she is
going about it in a very uncivilized
way by i'll treating her most intelligent
and cultivated subjects. Political civ
ilization is the Only thing that can help
Turkey to-day.
AS 70 Turkeys promise "to give the
islands a very liberal autonomy" one
cannot help smiling. Ny poor, poor
Turkey! IL is over one hundred years
since she has Kept even the smallest of
her promises.
7 believe that the sale of the Idaho
and the Mississippi to Greece will
make for peace, because when Turkey
feels that Greece is strong enough to
defend her own people she will use her
Greek subjects with a certain human
ity. Not only will the sale Of those
battleships be conducive to peace, but
it may help 10 bring about the realiza-
ton of Russian Bey's golden dream that
Turkey viii live TO take her place
among the nations OF the world"
DEMETRA VAKA.
Mrs. Kenneth Brown
st. Andrews, n D. June rs, 1914