The Raymer enterprise., 1917-09-27

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ANU tHls country WIN b9 ulsi
N w. hand knowledge can tell OF things
C<1T1TN as they are in the land Of the Turk
MfM Stricken with the dreaded typhus
M w al he lay at the point Of death when.
AlJL<LM obeying the mandate of Germany
the imperial Ottoman government
broke of diplomatic relations with the United
States Mr. Elkus' personality had so impressed
the Turks that the sultans government insisted
upon his remaining in ConstantInople until his
health was thoroughly restored and he could,
without danger OF n relapse, undertake the long
and arduons journey to America. Mr. Elkus con
tinued the excellent impression crented by his
predecessor. the Hon. Henry Morgenthau, and by
his efficiency aud kindness had done more than
make himself popular In Turkey he has made
the United States popular. Without amy dpo-
matte trimming the plain American lawyer who
until then had been distinguished only by his
philanthropy made an excellent record In an ex-
trcmey difficult diplomatic post and while en-
gagged upon an errand Of mercy. visiting Red
Cross soup kitchen. contracted the infection which
so nearly cost him his life.
Armenia was uppermost In my thoughts as !
talked with Ambassador Elkus. Peaceful In
dustrious. intelligent Armenia, an intellectual
people, clever In practical affairs and Of lofty
idenlsm When Turkey entered the war there
were Two million Afmenlans. but the atrocities
OF 1915 and WlG 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 10 be
done? The atrocities committed by the Turks In
Armenia 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 extermlna-
tion OF brave and cultured people. What in
terest had Germany In allowing this thing to be
done7 The only explanation that can be offered
Is that Germany wanted the Armenans extermi-
mated because It suited the purposes of her COIN
mercial greed
The Armenlans are the tanners the molders.
the baeksmlths, the tailors. the carpenters, the
cay-workers the weavers. the shoernakers, the
Jewellers, the pharmacists, the doctors. the law
yers OF Asia Minor and OF the Turkish empire.
They are at heart n 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 extermlnatIng them. The
presence of the Armenian was n menace, or at
least threatened To retard the pan-German de-
yeopment of Mtel-Europa.
Sympathy TOF inc OHkcu otdtes.
There is throughout the Lcvunt and the Bal
kans 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
graduate OF the American College for Girls In
Constantinope 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 princples-that is for liberty ana
equality of opportunity for all rich and poor
alike without class distinctions. The present
grand yIzer OF Turkey started In life as tele-
graph messenger boy In Adrianople.
Turkey broke of diplomatic relations with the
United States two weeks after the declaration
Of war with Germany. The exact date was April
90 Ambassador Ekus was informed by prom
inent member OF the Turkish government that the
pressure exerted by Germany upon the Sublime
Porte to break Of relations with America was
daily growing stronger. It 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 meeting and the note was
drafted signed and dispatched To everyone In
C0ustnntlnople this denoted that the utmost pres
sure had been brought to bear upon the sultans
government by his Teutonic ally.
When the war Lfoke out there was only $4,000
600 worth Of paper money In Turkey. Every
thing was paid for In hard cash. and gold and
silver we're the currency almost exclusively used
in the daily transactions OF the people. Every
thing was on cash basis. There Is In Turkey
today--after SO months Of war-more than $780,
100000 Of paper mons::. the authorized emissions
having reached total OF nearly soooooo
hounds