New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-23
TURKEY PROTESTS
BATTLESHIP SALE
Means War if Greece Gets
Mississippi ard Idaho,
Says Ambassador.
NEW ENVOY EXPLAINS
SITUATION TO TRIBUNE
Bone of Contention Is Islands
Guarding Entrance to the
DardanelleS.

from Tie Tribune Bureau
Washington. June -. Turkey for
mally protested TO the United states
to-day against the sale Of the battle
ships Idaho and Mississippi TO Greece,
and Russian Boy. the new Turkish Am
bassador. who presented his creden-
tials 20 the President to-day, said to the
Tribune CORRESPONDENT this evening
that the sale OF the ships would give
20 Greece a preporderance OF naval
power which would mean war b.
Greece on Turkey. The ambassador
expressed his views to the President,
as he has done to the Secretary Of
State.
1--WE have every reason to believe,
said the ambassador, that Greece Is
preparing for war on Turkey, and the
acquisition Of these two ships Will give
to her an added naval preponderance
which will make Il possible for her TO
act against us. Greece is already
stronger on the sea than Turkey. al
though when the two super-Dread-
noughts building for Turkey IN Eng
land arc delivered that will not be the
case, and with the Idaho and the MIS-
sissippi as n part Of the Greek navy
she will be vastly superior and in po-
SitOn TO declare war. Assurances from
Greece that possession Of these two
ships will work for peace are not
worth what they seem. for statesmen,
no matter how sincere their motives,
arc sometimes driven into war. Greece
is in an excited state, and popular
opinion could easily force the country
into conflict"
A. Nouras. the Greek Charge DAT.
fares accompanied by Commander
Tsouklas. Of the Greek navy, WIS re-
ccived by the President and represent
ed. IL is understood, that Greece NE ID
ed the Idaho and the Mississippi IN
order 70 prevent war Earlier IN the
day the President said 20 visitors IN Il
he favored selling the two ships and
had authorized Secretary Daniels -
propose the sale to Congress. The
President, when asked If the sale Of
the two ships would be conducive 20
peace. said that he had not un!cr-
stood that they would be used for M
mediate war purposes, and that he mad
been informed by the Greek Charge
d'Affaires that the acquisition Of the
vessels would promote peace.
President Wilson's open stand in
favor of The disposal Of the two ships
is expected TO swerye the House from
its original attitude in opposition TO
the sale. and when the conference re-
port on the naval bill is brought back,
probably tomorrow. it is expected the
Senate amendment will be accepted.
Secretary Bryan said this afternoon
that he had not received repor'r from
Constantinople or from Athens as to
the chance Of war and had not made
any inquiry concerning the situation.
There is likely to be an uproar from
naval officers if an effort is made to
turn over the ships TO Greece without
stripping them Of the American fire
control system which directs the tar
get wo!k Of the big guns. The sys-
TEN is considered one Of the best in
the world and so far it is a secret
affair.
IF the American politicians desired
90 take their stand Oh the merits OF
he quarrel between Turkey and
Greece said Russian Be- to the
Tribune correspondent. II would OK
plain that the bone Of contention be
teen the two countries is the islands
Of Mytilene and Chic and three minor
islands guarding the entrance to the
Dardanelles. Turkey in signing the
London Conference left the question
O. the fate of these islands. which were
occupied By Greece during the war. IN
the hands Of the powers, provided that
tic solution arrived at did not affect
fCr vital interests The powers de-
cided that Mytilene and Chic should re-
main in the hands Of Greece and that
the three islands at the entrance to the
Dardanelles should revert to Turkey.
turkey has not assented to this
decision, claiming that Mytilene and
Chic are as necessary to her security
as the smaller islands. There is not
the shadow Of q doubt that il she re-
manned in possession Of these islands
Greece would use them as a basis for
every kind o. enterprise against Tur-
key, nj whose expense she cherishes
openly imperialist designs. Turkey.
which Will live and take the place due
TO her among the nations Of the world,
cannot submit 10 this. She is ready
to give the islands n very liberal au-
tonomy, but they must revert TO her
Il is a question Of life and death to
her 70 get them back"