Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-04
SAySU. s. FOREIGN
POLICY INDICATED
Mr.. Lawrence Cites Armistice
as Justification for Keeping
BuIgars as Friends.
TURKS MAY DO LIKEWISE
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright, 1918, by the New York Evening
Post, 1nc.)
President Wilson's foresight in
steadfastly refusing to yield to press
ure for a declaration of war on Bull
garia has been of distinct assistance
to the cause of the,entente, as events
in the Balkans have proved, but the
wisdom OF that forbearance may yet
be demonstrated with respect to Tur-
key.
EEer siIce the United States de-
clared a, state Of war with Austria-
Hungary it seemed logical to many
people that the break with the central
powers should be made complete, sbut
the Department of State has repeat
edly baked the idea. No public ex-
PLANTATION was deemed wise. but upon
one occasion Secretary Lansing him.
self :counseled the Senate foreign re-
lations committee not to press the
resolution. Now that the American
policy has been justified it is possible
to present some of the fundamental
reasons that underlay our diplomacy.
Little Information Available.
One Of the most remarkable features
of the situation was that the tAmeri-
can government was really without
much detailed information from the
interior Of Bulgaria. getting reports
only occasionally from Consul Muir
phy Such data as he conveyed, cou-
pled with the instructive desire of
the American government to keep an
avenue open for eventual breakdown
of the central powers, prevented a
break with Bulgaria and, of course,
it would have been difficult to declare
war on the latter without similar
action toward Turkey.
The United States knew right along
that there were differences between
Bulgaria and Turkey and knew, au-
thoritatively, moreover, that Bulgaria
felt unhappy in her alliance with the
central powers because of the pros
pect Of German domination after the
war. Added to this was a sentimental
interest toward America on the part
Of the leading men of Bulgaria, many
Of whom were educated in Roberts
College, the American institution at
Constantinople.
From the point of view of the
able to keep on good terms with Bull
garia. not merely because of the con-
fident expectation that Bulgaria must
some day break with Germany and
Austria, but it was sound military
policy, too. The entente didn't want
to see Germany using Bulgarian
troops on the western front, and the
Bulearians were impressed with the
argument that to send forces to
France would mean inevitable clash
with American troops and declara-
ton of war, which would, of course,
prevent the United States from ex-
ercising her friendship for Bulgaria
in subsequent events.
Not Party to Arn1istiee.
The American government was not
a marty to the armistice- Drawn up be-
tween Bulgaria and the allies. but ha s
taken a deep interest in it neverthe-
less and will be kept informed by the
allies. The United States is not COM
mitted to any particular program in
the Balkans, though. no doubt. Amerl-
can sympathy for Serbia ana Greece
will come out as a satisfactory ad-
iustment of the near-eastern situa-
tion becomes necessary.
To date, however, 1t is counted as
distinct diplomatic achievement that
the United States retained the friend
ship OF Bulgaria. The hope that Bull
raria would break away from the
central powers was never given up; up;
make predictions, it is easy to see
that they believe. as does official Lon
don, that Turkey must soon see the
handwriting on the wall and break
away from Germany, too.
So far as America is concerned. her
refusal to declare war on Turkey is
based upon several considerations.
The United States could not partici-
pate without difficulty in any military
movement against Turkey, because
our forces will be employed directly
against Germany for some time to
come. On the other hand. to engage
in hostilities against the Turks might
mean q Wholesale massacre Of Chris
tians. Many American missionaries
still remain in Turkey. on good terms
wath the authorities there. They are
inl1usntial in tho Ottoman empire.
me TINA may not be far OF when
thos advantage Of having nucleus Of
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