New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Missionary Sees
Disaster in War
Against Turkey
DIR. J. l.. Barton Protests
Suggested Action by
America
Turks Friendly to u. 5.
Fears German Domination,
but Is Unable to Over
throw II
Turks Friendly to u. S

BOSTON, Dec. I6.-Dr. James l.
Barton, secretary Of the American
Board Of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions to-day made public a letter
he sent 10 Senator Lodge. senior mem
Der Of the Foreign Relations Commit
tee, following the Senator's recent
speech in favor Of declaration Of war
against Turkey and Bulgaria. DR.. Bar
ton set forth reasons against such ac-
ton by the United States. he SAID
that after conversations with scores
of responsible Americans VINO have re-
turned from Turkey since diplomatic
relations were broken OF he had been
led TO the following conclusions;
"That both Bulgaria and Turkey are
under the military rule and domination
of the Germans, without the-power of
throwing off that rule. In Turkey, for
instance, the Minister Of War, Enver
Pacha, is thought to be, and TO have
been for years, an agent OF Berlin. 1t
was through him that Turkey was in
volved in the war, without vote OF the
Cabinet and without the approval and
knowledge Of the Grand Vizier, or even
of the Sultan himself.
Turkish Mahometans Protest
"There has been an almost univer-
sal protest among the Mahometans OF
Turkey against the alliance Of Turkey
with Germany, and absolutely univer-
sal protest by the non-Moslems OF Tur-
KEY. The intelligent Turk is
quite aware OF the fact that If Ger
many wins all that she contemp plated
at the outset Of the war, Turkeys SOW
ereignty would be sacrificed. We ell
know that Germany began the conflict
with her eyes directed TO the East. and
not 70 the West, and that Berlin TO
Bagdad' did not mean simply rail-
connection between Berlin and Bagdad,
but it meant German sovereignty
across the whole area. e..
Recent reports make It clear that
the Turkish officials are increasingly
friendly toward the United States.
They see the impending ruin OF their
country. The sending of Bern
storff TO Constantinople is interpreted
as an endeavor on the part of Germany
TO stem this rising tide Of friend
ship.
"If the United States should declare
war upon Turkey there is every reason
10 expect that German officials would at
once seize the large plants Of American
colleges and institutions in CONSTANT
nople, Smyrna, Beirut and elsewhere
and put them to military uses. b.
Danger for Nom -Moslems
"There is grave danger that upon the
declaration Of war on the part of the
United States the remaining non-Mos-
lem population in Turkey, the Arme-
mans, Syrians, Greeks and Jews, under
German insistence, would be savagely
maltreated, If not generally massacred.
"On the question Of declaring war
against the United States, there was
only one member of the Turkish Cabi-
net that was strongly in favor of such
a step. This demonstrates what has
already been said, that Germany was
eager TO have Turkey declare war
against the United States, unquestion-
ably for the purpose of giving Germany
an absolutely free hand in Turkey in
dealing with Americans, American
property and American interests, and
for the purpose Of carrying out her
original plan of eliminating the nom
Moslem populations from the eastern
part of the Turkish Empire -