Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-09-12
TURKEY ASSERTS HERSELF.

the war. Turkey. taking ADVANTAGE of
the situation which occupies the at
tentton of all the European powers
with other matters, has announced
her a~brogation Of all the treaties
through which she was held in a sort
OF guardianship under the other ma
ttons.
The foreigner living or travelling
IN Germany. France. England, or al
most any other county called civilized.
Is subject in all matters to the laws
OF the country in which he happens
to be, and issues affecting his life. his
liberty or the disposition Of his prop
erty are tried in the courts of that
country. The authorities Of his own
land have nj jurisdiction in the mat
ter. This situation does not exist In
all countries. In China. in Japan until
q few years ago, and in Turkey until
the present moment, because of differ
ences between local and foreign GUS
toms and ideals, and because the
stronger nations have entertained the
conviction that the weaker ones had
not reached the stage of civilization
which entitled them to be trusted with
the administration Of Justice where
he people Of other countries were in
Folved. these foreign nations have had
what is known as extra territorial iur-
tsdiction. that Is. Jurisdiction over
their own citizens on foreign soil.
Thus, an Englishman or a Frenchman
in Turkey who might be charged with
a crime would be tried, not by the
local authorities. but by the consul or
other representative of his own coun-
try. This arrangement has been in
sisted on by the other nations and as
sented to perforce by the Turkish gov
eminent.
Such an arrangement naturally i'm
plies IN inferiority on the part Of the
nation to which it applies. and must
be distasteful. Turkey takes adyan-
tage Of the disturbed conditions to de-
clare her independence and equality.
The occidental nations have looked
down on the Turk for his alleged
backward civilization. Since the great
war broke put there have been some
cynical references to the boosted CIV
tlization of the west as compared with
that Of the east. It is certain that no
Turkish sultan ever committed a.
greater crime against reason and prog
ress than has been committed by
those responsible for this war. The
fact remains. however, that there is
q narkc1 1;ffororne lo&r-ea- r,,-...
and any Of the other nations now at
war In the administration of Justice,
Especialls in France, Germany and
Great Britain. the rights Of the alien
are as fully protected by the laws and
as fully respected by the courts as are
the rights of the citizen. The accused
person may be certain Of a fair trial
and Of proper opportunity to defend
himself, and his property rights are
as secure as those of the citizen Of the
country. 1t is not so in Turkey. There
the foreigner would be at a decided
disadvantage in the local courts, and
the decisions Of magistrates are no.
toriously very often matters of bar.
gain and sale. For this reason the
tnsistence Of the other nations on xe-
ira territorial jurisdiction has been
fully warranted.
1t is more than likely that this step
has been taken by Turkey at this mo-
ment for the purpose Of creating COM
plications which would result in war.
1t has been generally accepted as GER
tain for some time that Turkey would
enter the field as the ally Of Germany
and Austria. 1t is easy to see how
this summary a%brogation of treaties
may be followed by acts against Rus
slams. Frenchmen or Englishmen in
Turkey which will either bring a dec
laration of war by the country at
fected, or which will result in a dec
laration of war by Turkey. In other
words, assuming, as is generally be-
lieved. that Turkey has decided to go
to war, this act may be accepted as
one intended to furnish the pretext.