Evening star., 1915-02-22
TURKS HATE RUSS,
REASON FOR WAR
Grand Vizier Tells Associated
Press Why Porte Joined
With Germans.
HYPOCRISY OF ALLIES
THE DECIDING FACTOR
Ottoman Government Rejects Their
Offer of Guarantee of Integrity
for Thirty Years.

| CONSTANTINOPLE. via London, Feb
ruary 22--Prince Said Hahn. the grand
vizier of Turkey. in the first interview
he has ever given. has outlined to the
Associated Press Turkeys reason for
entering the war He explained the
abolition of the capitulations and point
ed out the advances made during the
past six years
I'VE have rejected the triple entente 9
offer to guarantee Turkey integrity for
thirty years." said the grand vizier
because acceptance would have been
detrimental to Turkeys sovereignty
Turkeys experience with the promises
made by the powers forming the triple
entente (Great Britain, France and
Russia) has not been favorable to the
promotion of confidence.
Turkey knew that to enter into rela-
tions with Great Britain, France and Rus
sia would have been harmful factor In
respect to the country's interest Rus
Sia moreover, is our hereditary enemy,
from whom we could not expect lasting
effects of a change Of heart Had the
past actions of these powers been diff
ferent, the page of history which Is now
being written might have read differently.
Tired of Hypocrisy.
ating the powers of the triple entente
when dealing with Turkey; SO we did
what provocation forced US to do-went
to war.
Turkey was made the object Of many
falsehoodS by the entente. Now the allies
assert that the government lacks the sup
port of the people. Could We make such
a good military showing, after the recent
wars and other troubles, If the govern
ment had not obtained the hearty CO.
operation of all Ottomans?
THE fact is, the present war shows
Turkey even more united than We had
expected. The assertions that We would
elements into a strong whole have been
completely refuted. That Turkey is
capable Of developing the highest form of
national solidarity is demonstrated fact.
Want Chance to Work Destiny.
1.-The Turkish people want a chance
to work out their destiny. Our start
six years ago was good. Much has been
accomplished already everywhere in
material and intellectual progress. We
have initiated many measures promo.-
ing the well being Of the people in
Constantinople. Today we have cleo
tric traction. telephones. street lights,
good police. clean. well paved streets,
public schools and a university admit
ting women. Public health has been
conserved: vice curbed.
II realize that there is much to do,
but the world should not forget that
our means are limited and that we have
heretofore been much hampered by the
capitulations.
I'VE are not barbaric people, not
savage, not black. not brown, not yel-
low, but white, with every right OF the
other white races, people willing to
invest its wealth and blood in the op
portunity to make good. as Americans
say.
Turkey has been misrepresented and
misunderstood: hence she is lacking
the sympathy to which she is entitled
Heretofore we were the pawn in Eu-
ropes politics and our interests we're
wholly unconsidered. We were tired of
this, and now are fighting for the
chance to have Turkey exist for the
sake of Turkey.
Not a German VassaI.
The claim that Turkey is bound to
pass under the sway of Germany is
absurd. Have Austria-Hungary and