Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-09-04
Associated Press News Il y.
From Eastern Fronts

Constatinople, Sept. "a banker of
considerable prominence in Constan-
tinaple has given Associated Press cor
respondent some idea Of what may be
accomplished in Turkey in event OF
the wal having a favorable outcome
for the Turks. Although the banker
stipulated that his name should not
he used at this time, his position and
knowledge of the country are sucl
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,
tanned 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 ~undeveloped resources Of tlc
Ottoman empire are enormous he
continued. Turkey, for instance,
could meet the entire grain shortage
OF Europe, if it's soil were adequately
titled and marketing facilities provid-
ed. Turkey could supply all Of Europe
with fruit, and ship fully oEe.ha!f Of
the meat imported by European coun-
tries from South and North America,
Australia and New Zealand. The in
telligent cultivation Of cotton would
place Turkey next to the United
States as a producer of the staple.
The olive oil industry could be in
creased a thousand times. More wool
could be exported. Ports Of Anatolia
and Syria are especially suited for tie
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
possible, however, said the banker,
the Ottoman government would have
to realize that a stable economic poll
, cy was necessary. Some Of the young
Turks had already arrived at such a
conclusion, but little had been done
even by them, he asserted.
"But we must be patient. 1t is hard
0y two years now since the Turks
themselves have taken to work.
UP to that time the Turks held the
erroneous notion that work was not
particularly ennohling, that work, af-
ter all, was for others-Kurds, Greeks.
and Armenians. With the Turks hold
ing the reins of government, this
view could lead but to one result-a
total lack of sound economic thought.
Whatever was done had the meeting
of immediate needs as it's objective.
Exploitation of a most ruthless nature
ensued. Under this system the splen-
did forests of Turkey were destroyed;
the peasant was taxed to death and
given no opportunity to improve eth
err himself Or his land; honest invest
ors were kept out of the country, with
the result that Turkey today has no
industries, and is Obliged ever to ship
its olive oil to Italy for refinement.
The absence of all economic under
standing on the part of those in power
under the old regime was appalling.
Those wishing to establish themselves
in some industry or business in Tar
key were usually asked to pay for the
privilege In the form of a bride to
some official.
ALREADY conditions have improved,
but there is much room for better
ment yet. But | arm not one of those
who maintain, maliciously, ! think,
that the Turk is constitutiOna1.y
averse to progress. He simply does
not, as a rule, understand that what
may benefit others will benefit him.
The Turk is suspicious of all strang-
ers, he is also covetous enough to en-
Wy the foreigner whose skill and en-
terprise lead to success. He does not
understand that q similar qualifioa-
ton and eXertion on his own part
would produce a like result.
"Sucl a condition could have bnt
one result, the stagnation one finds
in all parts of the Ottoman empire.
Religion has nothing to do with that.
I have many Turkish friends who en-
joy material wellbeing along with
their religion, and | am quite sure chat
the A%natolian peasant is capable of
relishing both caviare and vaudeville,
If ne could but secure them
Turkey needed a rapid extension of
its railroad system, said the banker.
1t needed more roads, though paradox
ical as it might seem, Turkey had.
never had SO many good roads as had
been built during the war. Then, the
peasant would have to be trained and
relieved from much Of the petty inter
ference he is still subject to-. Com
merce ought to be given the opportun-
ity OF developing under the impetus
OF unrestricted competition. Manufac-
ture should be placed beyond the
reach of governmental interference,
with the control left entirely to the
circumstance that Turkey, as an open
market, would always enjoy the price
regulation resulting from competition
between the home and foreign manu-
facturer."
Among other inforants, the CORES
pendent found some who held that
Turkey was incapable of formulating
a sound economic policy; elsewhere
the opinion that improvement was
discernible and that more, could be
looked for. ..
mo Turkish government has vet
gone to the trouble of training men in
economics, or giving the few Turks. so
trained, a chance of applying their
knowledge" said one authority. Il
doubt very much whether tle first
principle of economics is understood
by a quarter Of the men who serve in
the departments dealing with econ
omic matters in the Ottoman empire.
1t is all a question OF 1gnoSance-ig-