New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-12
THE WAR EDITORIALS
Praise from the Former American
Consul at Constantinople.

To the Editor Of rhe Tribune.
Sir: It must be extremely gratifyin to
those who have lived in the Near East to
read your editorial articles on topics touch
ing that region. find nothing in contempt
raneous literature to equal them in accuracy
Of statement as well as elegance OF dction.
They disclose not merely close study OF ms
tory. but clear perception Of the local color
and situation as if they were written by
some one who had enjoyed intm te assocla-
ton with the Greek, Turkish and Balkan peo-
pies
beg your indulgence for moment to ax-
prcss nv appreciation of the illuminating
historical article which was much more than
historical entitled "Ga!lipoli, l355-l9l5'
The newspapers Of this l.ry re so OBJ
sessed with their obsolete ideas Of the I'm
speakablc Turk" that il is refreshing TO read
in an up-to-date journal such sentences as
these: AZ home the Turk is as peaceful as
he has been warike abroad. Everywhere he
is the gentleman Of the .ast, single island
Of honesty and courtesy in the Levantine
food
The Turk was d barbarian IN medieval
times, but so were our English ancestors.
No matter how crude or false ones precon
cciyed notiou5 may be, no one can 1--we long
in that country without being wholly con-
vcrtcd to the accuracy % your editorial state
ments; and if has been able to make a
survey Of the surrJ indng cou tries, he must
be apprchensive in regard to the struggle
that is now going on along the Dardanelles.
If we could simply let England and nee
through the strait We should feel sure that
American institutions and all that is worth
preserving there would be protected and en-
couraged But it is the inevitable exodus
from the Black Sea which must fill US with
alarm. IF England and rance have entered
into an alliance with .,ussia to give the lat
ter free hand in turkey in considerati. (
the armies Russia is throwing against the
eastern frontier Of Germany, it is almost GER
tain that there will be no growth OF Prot
cstant schools or churches in Turkey II Rus
STA ca prevent IL.
Russia. with her autocratc and suDter-
ranean methods. will find was of starving
and sLppressilg the schools. churches and
mission stations which Americans have
planted fror. the cast OF Asia Minor 70 the
valley OF the Euphratcs We are certain TO
have Russian tyranny in the place OF Turkish
tolerance and It will be not .ess tyrannical
because i is yelled with Russian diplomacy,
which is a fine blend of Slavic brutality and
Oriental trickery.
While am writing Jet ne correct an i'm
preston which | find prevails widely anon
INTEL. gent leaders that Russia ha, been de-
MED ,he usc oc the Bosporus and Darda-
nelles for all proper purposes. At all times,
except in war times. ussan commerce has
had free passage through these Yates. Only
her war vessels, which she agreed not to
build by the Treaty OF Berlin, Lave been bot
tied up in the Black Sea.
There is no country in he woriG whose
possessions and interest in Turkey can com
pare with those of the United tates The
Christian ard philanthro, people in this
country have poured millions OF dollars into
that region to establish schools, churches
and mission stations to educate and uplift
the people. and this work has progressed
with the most benefccnt results. while the
European Lations have merely been striving
to establish their spheres Of political in
huence and carry OIL their dcpots for com
mercial purposes.
am surprised 90 &c so little alarm OK
pressed over the march OF immediate events.
for those who are interested m the progress
Of American work In TurSey know very vel!
what the whitening ami blghting influence of
Russia is IL. regard TO all such work wherever