New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-26

..,oh,i.b central authority and protect
herself against the reactionary influences
within her own borders. 10 90 TINS, S"e
NAV need more than the moral support OF
the nations of the world interested IN tne
achievement and maintenance OF peace. She
NAV need some material support, and IL
would not be uniting (at time when the
rights Of small nations are so bravery cnam-
pioned) that Persia should be assisted 70
work her way to freedom. =,
Here is a small nation, innocent OF all
aggression or violence, willing and anxious
to administer justice within her borders.
needing help and able easily to offer an
adequate return.
Her position, too, is such that she can
easier than any other nation, help the
Armenian people who are dying at her doors
Invaded and ravaged by the Turks, VINO
swept through the Province OF Hamadsh
almost to the gates Of Teheran, she has lent
aid TO Russia and England, rejecting the
bribes of the Teutonic powers and rewin-
ming with Russian aid her own devastated
lands
Russia. whatever her record against the
Jews in Europe, has been custer and more
liberal than any other nation in her treat
ment of Armenians, and the conquered
provinces of Turkish Armenia look to the
Russians as their saviors. With Russia
crippled by internal strife, the Armenian
people may yet 60 back to the murderers
Of Erzerum and Trebizond, unless another
champion arises to defend them.
The question also energies, What assist
ance can Persia lend to the Allied cause
Russia, after pushing the Turks out OF
Persia and down through Armenia to Trebi-
zond and Mush, finds her supports broken
her armies weakened, while her authority
in Trans-Caspia is challenged BY internal
revolution. Britain, advancing on Mosui,
faces an undivided foe which the success
ut Ramadie has but checked. Persia, dis
organized and unarmed, is not force TO De
feared, and nothing but the needs oil the
Teutonc Powers In Europe prevent the
Turks sweeping back over the bodies OF their
slaughtered Armenian subjects TO Teheran
and beyond.
Beyond is where the dsngsr lies, because
omen communication with their co-religlon-
lists in northwest Persia and in Afghanistan
might we'll breed trouble north and south
IN Turkestan and in India. The present re-
volt led by General Cherkess against Russia
in Turkestan, even il unsuccessful, is signih-
cant Of conditions full of dangerous possi-
bilities.
The religious question has an important
bearing in view of the fact that in Mahom-
ctan countries politics and theology are
at present unseparated and seemingly IN
separabe Islam, with its seventy-three
sects, has two great divisions, the Sunnite
and the Shiite. There is gulf between
these two divisions as wide as, probably even
wider than, between the Greek and the
Roman Catholic churches.
The centre of the Sunnite religion IS IN
Turkey: of the Shiite in Persia. Any hope
that Turkey may have had to arouse holy
war in British and Russian territory de-
pended on her ability to establish across
Persia physical communication with her
Sunnite coreligionists. The Sunnis are the
larger division Of the Moslem faith, and
are spread not only throughout Turkey,
Asia Minor and Arabia, but through all
Turkestan, Afghanistan, Beluchistan and
British IrG.a. Between these groups of re-
ligious followers is Persia, of the Shilte
religion, b. Persia itself is not free from
Sunnis, and has upward Of one million
Sunnite followers, mostly Kurds, in the
northwestern part Of Persia.
Long Held the Gate
II has been the attempt of Turkey to pene-
trate Persia and to foster a rebellion among
the Kurds, so as to facilitate the linking up
with their coreligionists to the east and
northeast in Turkestan and Afghanlsttn.
The stability of the Persian government is
worth maintaining in order that the physical
communication between these two bodies OF
tie Sunnite faith be prevented.
1t is owing to the division in Islam that
Persia has stood out against the instigation
Of the Turkish Moslems and taken an indie
pendent part in the war.
Persia has long held the gate, and this
is obviously her function in the present
world struggle. Even if she were not to
enter the war, her active sympathy with the
Allies, were she strong for defence and Of
fence, would be worth seeking.
If America and the Allies do not help
Persia they will overlook a great strategic
and military opportunity. They may do more
they may lose the opportunity to help to