The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-09-03
RESOURCES
Of TURKEY ARE
VERY GREAT
And the Greatest Need There is
An Economic Policy, De-
ClareS a Banker.

CoNSTANT1NoPLE, Sept. IA
banker of considerable prominence
IN Constantinople has given the Asso-
GATED Press correspondent some idea
OF what may be accomplished in
Turkey in event Of the war having
q favorable outcome for the Turks.
Although the banker stipulated that
MS name should not be used at this
time, his position and knowledge of
the country are such that his state
ments. even appearing anonymously.
may be considered as Of unusual i'm
portance.
Discussing the essentials that
would make Turkey a strong and
self-contained 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 the
Ottoman empire are enormous" he
continued. Turkey, for instance
could meet the entire grain shortage
OF Europe. II its soil were adequately
titled and marketing facilities pro-
yided. Turkey could supply all OF
europe with fruit. and ship fully one
malt OF the meat now imported by
European countries from outh and
North America, Australia and New
zealand. The intelligent cultivation
OF cotton would place Turkey next to
the United States as producer of
tse staple. The olive oil industry
could be increased thousand times.
More wool could be exported. Ports
OF Anatolia and Syria are especially
suited for the raising Of plants OF
great medicinal value. Even coal Of
fafr value could be shipped to the
Mediterranean countries"
Stable Policy Needed.
Before any Of these things could
be made possible, however, said the
banker, the Ottoman government
would have to realize that
that a stable economic policy was
necessary. Some of the young Turks
had already arrived at such a con-
clusion, but little had been done even
by them, he asserts.
But we must be patient. It ia
hardly two years now since the Turks
themselves have taken to work. Up
to that time the Turks held the err
roneous notion that work was not
particularly enrolling, that work,
after all, was for others-Kurds,
Greeks and Armenians. With the
Turks holding the reins Of govern
ment, this view could lead but to
one 1esult-a total lack of sound
economic thought. Whatever was
done had the meeting of immediate
needs as its objective. Exploitation
OF a most ruthless nature ensued. I'm
Ger this system the splendid forests
OF Turkey were destroyed; the pea
SAINT was taxed to death and given
no opportunity to improve either
himself or his land; honest investors
were kept out Of the country, with
the result 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 under
standing on the part Of those in power
under the old regime was appalling.
Those wishing to establish them
selves in some industry or business
in Turkey were usually asked to nay
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 am not one of those
who maintain maliciously, I think,
that the Turk Is constitutionally
averse to progress. He simply does
not, as a rule. understand that what
benefit others, will benefit him. The
Turk is suspicious Of all strangers,