New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
Asia S F ace In Europe
From The Villager


flrst hold not in Corstantinople. but among
the fatars of kazan. The Russian revo-
luton OF 1908 revealed its existence; the
Nahometan clement Of the empire came sud
denly forward and the lifting of the censor
ship resulted in an outburst Of pamphlets
and newspapers from Tat;r centres. ev-
denclng an awakening of thought and new
II stlil vague national consciousness. The
successful coup OF the Young Turks three
years after the Russian Revolution brought
the two ends of the Turanian movement into
real approximation, and cvents since 1914
have worked most opportunely for further
consolidation. Realizing the strength Of the
Mahometan voice and fearing it. the Gar
dom contrlved gradually to crowd down the
Mahometan representation after 1906 but
the present revolution has dissolved restric-
tlons and the Tatars are showing themselves
a falry united force, pulling away from the
European Russian faction. Everything points
toward the complete separation OF the Ma
hometan flank. the only factor 10 the con-
trary being that which the Car long
relied to hold his Eastern millions to his
command namely, a peculiar submissveness
which has ever been the chief Characteristic
of the Tatar and his kinsmen
The Mahometans are stronger than any
other non Russian element save the Jl.rain-
lans now a republic; indeed there are more
Mahometans in Russia than in the whole
OF the Ottoman Empire Once they were sep
arated from European Russia, it is inevitable
that there would be an approach if not a
definite consolidation with the Turks proper
and there is considerable opinion already in
Constantinople which looks over the ruins
OF pan-lslamism to The new hope which is
Pan-Turanism. Pan-Islamism had two per
petual difficulties which time seemed only to
make the worse-Arabia and the weakness
OF turkey The new nationalist surge in
Arabia, having as it does the protection Of
Great Britain, has made the former obstacle
now insurmountable; the split is final. and
no appeal to the prophet can bring Arabia
back beneath the Turkish roof
To Regenerate
Efete Europe
Turkey is Of herself stronger in en-
lightened craftsmanship than she was ten
years ago, but she has now a warm and
most efficient ally where before October.
1914, she had only an interested friend. Be
yond this political consideration, moreover,
pan-Turkism need not depend, as the re-
hgious movement was forced to do. on Con-
stantinople for leadership. Indeed. leaving
the efficient ally out Of the question for
the moment, it would seem that the hardy
Tatars, sinewy, shrcwd and frugal, might
very easily step into the vanguard and turn
the eyes of Europe from the sultry welter of
problems at the Bosporus.
And this is precisely the theory of the
Turanian enthusiasts. In their belief, the
Southern Asiatic peoples, the Hindus. Egyp-
tians and Persians, are degenerate beyond
reclaim, while the Europeans, drained By
fierce industrialsm, are already upon their
decline. The Turanians young and virile
their powers untouched and unspoled and it
ls upon them rests the mission Of regenerat-
ing the worn-out world. Attila of the Huns
Ertcgrul OF the Ottomans, Ghengis Khan and
Iamerlane Of the Mongols, Alp Arslan of the
SelJuks, Arpad of the Magyars, Isperich Of
the Bulgars these were mighty conduerors
and their children still live; what NAV not
result should they draw together in common
cause?
In these crowded days however, our vision
does not look so far the redemption of
me worlds vitality. The Immediate signiti-
cance tor US OF The pan-Turanan movement
lies IN It's relation to German Imperialism
IL the Mahometan elements break off from
Russia and form themselves into some sort
Oh state, wlll they not, politically nexperi-
enced and all unused TO Independence, be
utterly at the mercy Of German expansion?
Linked up with Berlin's vassals, Turkey and
bulgaria, viii not "Turania" become a mag
hlhcehr compensation for the loss of bits
sucn as Belgium and Aisace? Great Britain
AZ Mesopotamla has put an end, for the pres
e"o at ieast to Berlin to Bagdad," but how
now ABOUT Berlin to Bokhara"?
iEeSe may be baseless anxieties but We
pan oeafiy Tor our ignorance of MitteIeu,.ono
.'''u pan -Icflnanlsm; We cannot afford to he
mum ereht to the pan -Turanian movement