The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-29

the imperial Ottoman government
broke off diplomatic relations with the United
States. Mr.. Elkus' personality had so impressed
the Turks that the sultan's government insisted
upon his remaining in Constantinople until his
health was thoroughly restored and he could,
without danger of a relapse, undertake the long
and arduous journey to America. Mr.. Elkus con-
tinued the excellent impression created by his
predecessor, the Hon. Henry Morgenthau, and by
his efficiency and kindness had done more than
make himself popular in Turkey; he has made
the United States popular. Without any diplo-
matte training, the plain American lawyer who
until then had been distinguished only by his
philanthropy made an excellent record In an ex-
tremely difficult diplomatic post, and while en-
gagged upon an errand Of mercy, visiting a Red
Cross soup kitchen, contracted the infection which
so nearly cost him his life.
Armenia was uppermost in my thoughts as I
talked with Ambassador Elkus. Peaceful, in
dustriOus, intelligent Armenia, an intellectual
people, clever In practical affairs and of lofty
idealism. When Turkey entered the war there
were two million Armenians, but the atrocities
of 1915 and 1916 very greatly reduced their num-
Der. Systematic butchery and wholesale slaughter
Of these people by the Turks makes this one of
the most terrible crimes In the history Of man
kind.
Why has Germany allowed these things to be
done? The atrocities committed by the Turks In
Armenia are perhaps no worse than those Of
which the Germans themselves have been guilty
in Belgium and France, but there is something
peculiarly horrible in the cold-blooded extermina-
ton of a brave and cultured people. What in
terest had Germany in allowing this thing to be
done? The only explanation that can be offered
Is that Germany wanted the Armenians exterml-
mated because it suited the purposes of her COM
mercial greed.
The Armenians are the tanners, the molders,
the blacksmiths, the tailors, the carpenters, the
clay-wOrkers, the weavers, the shoemakers, the
jewellers, the pharmacists, the doctors. the law
yers of Asia Minor and of the Turkish empire.
They are at heart a conservative people and for
hundreds of years their trade has been done with
France and England. They do not take kindly
to German goods. Therefore Germany closed her
eyes while Turkey was discriminating them. The
presence of the Armenian was a menace. or. at
least threatened to retard the Pan-GermaD de-
velopment of M~ittel-Europa.
Sympathy for the United States.
There is throughout the Levant and the Bal
kans a real and deep-rooted sympathy for the
United States. The leading Bulgarian states
men are graduates of American schools and col
leges. The Turkish government has taken a
graduate of the American College for Girls In
ConstantinOple and placed her in charge of the
organization of Turkish schools in Syria. 1t is
especially among the middle and the lower
classes that the United States is genuinely pop
ular. Emigrants who have returned, tourists
who have travelled, all agree that America stands
for democratic principles-that is, for liberty and
equality Of opportunity for all, rich and poor
alike, without class distinctions. The present
grand vizier of Turkey started In life as a tele-
graph messenger boy in AdrianOple.
Turkey broke off diplomatic relations with the
United States two weeks after the declaration
of war with Germany. The exact date was April
20. Ambassador Elkus was informed by a prom
inent member of the Turkish government that the
pressure exerted by Germany upon the Sublime
Porte to break off relations with America was
daily growing stronger. 1t is significant that the
note announcing the rupture Of relations was
dated Friday, which is the Turkish Sabbath. Yet
on the day when all public offices are closed. the
Turkish cabinet held a meeting and the note was
drafted, signed and dispatched. To everyone in
Constant1nople this denoted that the utmost pres
sure had been brought to bear upon the sultan's
government by his Teutonic ally.
When the war broke out there was only $4,000
900 worth of paper money in Turkey. Every
thing was paid for In hard cash, and gold and
silver were the currency almost exclusively used
In the daily transactions of the people. Every
thing was on a cash basis. There Is In Turkey
today-after 33 months of war-mor than $780,
000,0O of paper money, the authorized emissions
having reached a total Of nearly eo,OOO,00O
pounds.