Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-12
At Request of President VIII
SON. Secretary of State
Bryan Interviews Ambas-
Sador From Turkey.
M0SLEM DIPLOMAT
CORRECTLY REPORTED
Pleads That Critical Conditions
Justify Lecture Delivered for
Benefit of American News
papers,

lev MORNING jovsrAL SPECIAL LEASED wissI
Washington. Sept. l1.--PresIdent
Wilson early today wrote Secretary
Bryan to inquire of A. Rustem Bey.
the Turkish ambassador. IL a recent
lly published statement attributed to
him was authentic The ambassador
had a long conference with Mr. Bry-
an at the state department. after
which the secretary conferred with
the president.
The ambassador, II is understood.
explained that the statement as pub
lished was accurate, but intended in
no way to reflect on the United
States government. 1t was understood
that with this explanation the Incl
dent will be closed.
No Recall Demanded.
I During the day there had been
published reports to the effect that
recall Of the ambassador might be
sought by the Washington govern
ment. but Secretary Bryan said such
reports We're entirely without autho-
rity.
/ Late tonight the ambassador au-
thorixed the following statement:
"ln the presence OF the importance
given to the statement made by me
few days back and arising out Of
the rumors seduIously disseminated
in the United States that again a
massacre of Christians was in prepa-
ration in Turkey. it may serve a good
purpose to explain that. according to
my mind, n great responsibility
rests at the present moment on the
press of the United States, especially
in regard to Turkey, where the situ-
alton is naturally very strained one.
Accuses Newspapers.
For years past the newspapers of
this country have INDUCED in blind
hostility towards Turkey. This was
comparatively unimportant so far
But today the unfairness of this atti-l
tude may cause serious mischief. In
the absence of all restrictive clauses
In the press laws of the United States
in regard to the treatment Of foreign
countries, / adopted the only course
available to induce the United States
press to take a more serious view of
its relationship to Turkey--that of a
straightforward appeal to 1t in which |
pointedly mentioned some of the
things that happened in the United
States, which should not happen, in
itably with Turkey.
Right, Though Unconventional.
II am firmly convinced that / was
morally If not conventionally right in
adopting this course There are times,
and this is one of them, when con-
ventions can and must be set aside.
The interests of humanity should not
be sacrificed to them"
Rustem Bey's Charges.
The Ambassadors statement, which /
was scrutinized by officials and I
caused the inquiry. charged. first that
Great Britain was attempting to draw
the United States into the European
war by asking that American war
ships go to Turkey England. he said.
was agitating. before the eyes of the /
United States the spectre of a mas
sacre OF Christians. He explained
that while there had been some mas
sacres in Turkey, the victims suffered
not as Christians. but as political agi-
tators engaged in undermining the
Ottoman state. He spoke of the acts
of other foreign people under provo
cation. mentioning Russia, and then
said:
Criticism OF America.
And since a large number of
American papers are siding with
Great Britain and France in this af-
fair, ! will permit myself TO say that
the thought Of lynchings which occur
daily in the United States and the
memory OF the water cures in the
should make them chary
Of attacking Turkey in connection
with acts of savagery committed by f,
her under provocation compared with
which the economic competition of an
italian or the sniping of a Filipino !
Or even the outrage of negro are as {
nothing Supposing. for the sake of
argument, what in reality never could
happen, that the negroes were dis {
covered to be engaged in a conspiracy !,
with the Japanese to facilitate the in I
fasion of the United States by the d
after, how many Of them would be {
eft alive to tell the tale?" /
The above paragraph caused con- y
siderable discussion in diplomatic I
md official circles. but the delicacy t
If the present European situation, 1t q
S known. led the president and Secre-
ary Bryan to the conclusion that c
What might be regarded as an indis-
rect statement in time Of peace. could h
'e ignored at present on account OF
he critical situation produced by the e
fpropeap wal. 2