The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-22
Associated Press Secures First Statement as to Reasons for Turkeys Action
HALIM SAYS POWERS
 OF THE ENTENTE DO
 NOT KEEP PROMISES
Says Nation Is United and
 Wants Chance to Work Out Own Destiny-Fight- ing That Turkey May Exist

Constantinople, February 21.-tVia Lon don)-Prince Said Halim, the Turkish grand vizier. in the first interview he ever has given, has outlined to the Asso- ciated Press Turkeys reason for enter ing the war. He explained the abolition of the capitulations and pointed out ad- eances made during the past six years
 We have rejected the triple entente's offer to guarantee Trukey integrity for 30 years" said the grand vizier, because acceptance would have been detrimen- tai to Turkeys sovereignty. Turkeys experience. with the promises made by Great Britain. France and Russia) has not been favorable to the promotion of confidence
 Russia Heredity Enemy
 Turkey knew that to enter into rea- tions with Great Britain, France and Russia would have harmed the country's interest. Russia, moreover, Is our hered- itary enemy, from whom we could not expect lasting effects of change of heart. Had the past actions of these powess been different, the page of his tory which is now being written might have read differently.
 we were tired of the hypocrisy actuat- ing the triple entente when dealing with Turkey so we did what provocation forced us to do-went to war.
 ssTurxay xua r,ada tho obiact of ,,,apx- falsehoods by the entente. Now the al- lies assert that the government lacks the support of the people Could We make such a good military showing, if the gov ernment 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. That Turkey is capable of de- veloping the highest form of national solidarity is demonstrated fact. The Turkish people want chance to work out their destiny. Our start six years ago was good. Much has been accom- pished already. We have initiated many measures promoting the Well being of the people in Constantinople. Today we have electric traction, telephones. street
 
 streets, public schools and university admitting women. Public health has been conserved: vice curbed.
 T realize there is much to do but the world must not forget that we are linn ited
 Not a Barbaric People We are not a barbaric people not savage, not black, not brown, not yell low, but white, with every right of the other white races a people willing to invest it's wealth and blood in the oppor- tunity to make good, as Americans say
 Turkey has been misrepresented and misunderstood; hence, she is lacking the sympathy to which she is entitled. Here tofore, we were the pawn of Europe's politics and our interests were wholly unconsidered. We were tired of this, and now are fighting for the chance to have Turkey exist for the sake of Turkey. The claim that Turkey is bound to pass under the sway of Germany is ab- surd. Have Austria Hungary and Italy passed under the sway of their pow erful ally in the alliance? "The matter of foreign schools is sim pie enough We propose to give these institutions the status enjoyed by them in the United States, the management continuing to be independent. All we pro- pose and hope to accomplish by the aboli tion of capitulations was the elimination of the small states within Turkey ere ated by the capitulations. I do not as- sert that these will never be needed, but the time has come when Turkey is anx- ious to extend to all within her borders the protection and guarantees given by other governments.
 Apprehension in that respect would be equivalent to denial of all we have accomplished in the past SIX years. Our critics overlook the obstacles which have been met with success by the strong. re- 5uvenated Turkey"