New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-29
TURKISH FRIGHTFULNESS
Broken United States Seal at Consequences Chris
tans in Syia-The Young Turk Plan to Exemnae
Lebanese People

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Some time last October a cabed re-
port came from Paris TO the effect that the
Turkish authorities at Beirut, Syria, broke
the United States seal which had been at
tached TO the French Consulate there and
seized the archives Of the consulate. In a
letter published at that time in "The Evening
Post tried to call attention to the possible
disastrous consequences to the Francophile
element among the natives which may result
from the violation of the seal. | hoped there
by that investigation OF the matter by the
government at Washington might lead 70 the
necessary steps being taken to prevent. If
possible. advantage being taken by the Tur-
kish authorities through this fragrant breach
OF international courtesy, If not OF lnterna-
tional law. Unfortunately, however, only my
fears as TO the disastrous consequences, fol-
lowing the surrender Of the archives, have
come true; the reprisas have proved even
worse than had supposed it possible. Not
only those directly involved but also their
friends and families had to suffer untold pun
ELEMENTS and indignities. Among others
several leading bishops and notables were
executed, imprisoned or depOrted to distant
places. whence they are never expected to re-
turn.
Mount Lebanon, in particular, was made
n. target for frightful vengeance; 1t IS
literally being starved to death The alleged
pretext for this special treatment is that
among the papers seized many bore the names
o. Lebanese leading figures, but the true rea-
son for the methodical determination OF the
inhabitants is for political purpose, to W.T.
the rendering 10 a negligible impotency OF
the Christian element in Syria by eXtermi-
mating this sturdy race, who, besides being
preponderately Christian people, enjoy or
rather had enjoyed up till the outbreak oil
the war in Europe, certain form OF autono-
nous government under the protection OF
the Powers, with the French influence pre-
ponderating. The description which recent
refugees to Egypt have given of the frightfuI
condition to which this people has been re-
duced, through the prevention by the Turkish
authorities of the supplies of food reaching
il from the adjacent districts seems beyond
belief An idea as to this condition may be
formed from the following cable recently sub
mitted TO Mr.. Roosevelt, invoking his sym
pathy, by DR.. SHIRLEY Schmeil, of Cairo, who
admittedly is in the front rank of the intel
lectuals in the Arabic speaking world:
Turkish Government interceptng food
supplies with intention to starve Syrians.
Thousands of Lebanese already dying Of star
vation. Without energetic and prompt inter
vention of America population will soon be
/ L., - Z hun INIT rav
exert all means at your disposal
Cairo papers. recently reaching New York,
describe how people try to escape the fendish
methods of the Turks to starve and otherwise
naltreat them by taking to small boats into
the wide sea on the fmsy expectation of be
ing picked up by a cruising French or British
an-of-war which may happen to pass by. In
meeting recently held at Cairo, Monsei-
gneur Darian, a prominent Maronte Bishop,
and DR.. Faris Nmr, the editor OF The Mo
kattsm," the leading daily in Egypt. both at
tested to the fact that from reliable infor-
nation in their possession they know that
So 900 Syrians, mostly Lebanese. have already
died from this methodical process of starva-
ton As proof of this Young Turk plan TO
exterminate the Lebanese people, the fact
may be cited that whereas the natural food
supplies of the country could be had for a
nominal price in the adjacent districts, in
Lebanon itself, besides its being scarce, it
can only be had at phenomenal prices. The
reason is clear: ~ GOOD supplies are pre-
vented By the authorities from entering the
arid mountain. for purpose. II is true that
the Turks needed no preteXt for the execu-
ton of their long cherished plan, but it cam