New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
AFTER THE TURK is ELIMINATED
ecuaons on the Probable Sequel Csson of
Ru,,ia-Hov Dsmemberment May Be Effected

Russia at Constantinople, without lahu
route TO reach it, is bound TO be more az
gressive against the moribund lurh '"a"
ever. II Turkey were TO be permitted 10
tain Asia Minor, with the provision OF gram
inc a concession TO Russia TO CONSTRUCT o
railroad along the Black Sea coast, IN aceoid-
onca with the Russo-Turk oral understanoi"s
81 1905 II first heard of the existence OF th'S
understanding lust before the war from
former Turk Prime Minister and Minister
Of Foreign Affairs). then in due time kusss
il sure 70 proceed to gain the ownership o.
that strip. and this will mean conflict VIII"
Great Britain.
The Dardanelles is that logical and nat
ural outlet It keeps Russia away from ar ar
rnenia. Cilicia. MesOpotamla, the eisia"
Gulf and the Mediterranean coast OF As.@
Minor which exactly serves the PURPOSES -
Great Britain, France and Italy. put Mans
once recognized the legitimacy Oh tue
sian claim to Constantinople, that claim mus
be satisfied fully as it can be. a Paleheu
and half measure arrangement is ho' a -
Element but a postponement Of the solution
81 the entire question, which must some DAY
no met. The hopelessness of the TURK rue
having been cohclusively demonstrated 1t Is
absolutely necessary that the Turkish ques-
tion should be now wholly and dennltely set
tIed Then in order that the possibility Oh
the Russian invasion of Asia Minor ana ever
a second effort by Germany in the same az
rectior be averted, Turkey should be dlsmei',
bered according to the principle OF natlohal
ity ard the recognized rights ana INTERESTS
of the powers. II is by raising series U
barriers from the Dardanelles to the PERSIAN
CuIf and the Suez Canal, instead OF the uh-
reliable Turk, that an ambitious ana aggIes-
sive foreign nation can be kept out Oh ASIA
Minor. And this the interest Of Great Britain
imperatively demands.
THE probable division of Turkey VIII
therefore. be as follows: The BLACK sea
coast parts of Ismid and Bigha and turkey
in Fnrope. east of Enos-Media line, TO Rus
sia; Turkey in Europe, west OF Enos-heol !,
line. probably to Bulgaria; Arabia, brlLis'
nrotectorate similar to British ARABIA; RAJ
estine. exclusive of Jerusalem and enNlrohS
into a Jewish state under JOINT proIectlO"
Jerusalem and environs, to an lnterhaVion"'
commission; Syria, a French protectorals ;
Rasra Bagdad Mossul, Mesopotamla anu
Alexandretta, to Great Bitain; Armenia aho
Cilicia. into an Armenian state, under inc
protection of Great Britain; lcoheuni' ~
Italv: Smyrna, to Greece probably ana Tue
balance, consisting of parts OF the pro'ih g
Of Angora, BruSSa ana OdsIdiiiuiIi CO.
district of Ismid, and possibly also the Ore
clam share. may be assigned to Turkey SUI
iect to her good behavior hereafter eve"
though she can claim no right to any moe
incidence or autonomy under the prihciPie
of nationality. M.
With the elimination of the Turk as Po.
ltical factor the Mahometan world Will Ok
brought into closer contact with Cnristen'
dom. which will be one of the two most iaf'
reaching accomplishments of the war; a aei !,
cate and supremely important problem ~
this connection will be the determlnation -
the claims Of rival aspirants to the Calipha'e
since the Sultan of Turkey IS ooIh
usurper of that great Office and is not re rec
nized by all the Moslem sects. The Sherlt "
Mecca, among others, may establish DetIgi
title to the hierarchy of Islam. IL Is hisnly
desirable if the time is ripe for it, that th'
regent of Mahomet, as the head OF a reiig
ions order. should be invested only WIN
sniritual authority, as the Pope, and MAKE
his Vatican at Mecca. ,,er
A STUDENT OF THE NEAR EASI'
Now York. Jan. 80, 1917.