Arizona republican., 1915-09-03
Prominent Banker Gives Idea of What May Be Accomplished ill Event War Has Favorable Out come for the Turks
ECONOMIC POLICY
 Is NEEDED MOST
Exploitation Must Cease, as Turkey Has Been Mis- sioned' and ''Commis- stoned" So Often That More is Superfluous
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPArcHl


 l ONSTANTINOPLE. Sept. "A 1 banker of considerable prominence in Constantinople has given the Associat- ed Press correspondent some idea of what may be accomplished in Turkey in event of the war having favorable outcome for the Turks Although the banker stipulated that his name should not be used at this time, his position and knowledge of the country are such that his statements, even appearing anonymously. may be considered as of unusual importance.
 Discussing the essentials that would make Turkey a strong and self-con- tained political unit after the war. he said at the outset that what Turkey needed today most was an economic policy that would leave something for coming generations. In other words, exploitation would have to cease
 The undeveIoped resources of the Ottoman empire are enormous" he continued. Turkey, for instance could meet the entire grain shortage of Europe, if its soil were adequately titled and marketing facilities provided. Turkey could supply all of Europe with fruit. and ship fully one-half of the meat now imported by European countries from south and North Amer ica, Australia and New Zealand. The intelligent cultivation of cotton would place Turkey next to the United States as producer of the staple. The olive oil industry could be increased a thousand times. More wool could be exported. Ports of Anatolia and Sy- ria are especially suited for the raising of plants of great medicinal value. Even coal of fair value could be shipped to the Mediterranean coun- tries.'
 Before any of these things could be made possible, however, said the bank CT. the ottoman government would 1 have to realize that stable economic l policy was necessary. Some of the | Young Turks had already arrived at i such q conclusion, but little had heen i done even by them. he asserted.
 "But we must be patient It is hard ! ly two years now since the Turks ! thems lives have taken to work
 Up to that time the Turks held the l erroneous notion that work was not i particularly enrobling, that work. after 1 all. was for others-Kurds, Creeks and | Armenians. With the Turks holding 1 the reins of government, this view could lead but to one result-a total 1 lack of sound economic thought. What | ever was done had the meeting of i'm mediate needs as it's objective. Ex- ploitation of most ruthless nature en- sued. Under this system the splendid forests of Turkey were destroyed: the peasant was taxed to death and given no opportunity to improve either him. self or his land; honest investors were ,ft f | that Turkey today has no industries. and is obliged even to ship it's olive oil to Italy for refinement. The absence of all economic understanding on the part of those in power under the old regime was appalling. Those wishing to establish themselves in some indus try or business in Turkey were usually asked to pay for the privilege in the form of a bribe to some official
 Already conditions have improved. but there is much room for betterment vet. But I am not one of those who maliciously, I think, that the Turk is constitutionally averse to progress. He simply does not, as a rule. understand that what may ben eft others, will benefit him. The Turk is suspicious of all strangers, he is also covetous enough to envy the foreigner whose skill and enterprise lead to sue cess. He does not understand that a similar qualification and eXertion on his own part would produce a like re- suit
 Such a condition could have but one result the stagnation one finds in all parts of the ottoman empire Religion
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