Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-12-14
DIFFERENT OPINIONS
ON HOW AMERICANS
SHOULD HELP TURKS
Some Favor Mandate by Wilson
and Some Would 'Let
George Do It."
BY LADlSLAS CZAPSKI.
Cable to Great Falls Daily Tribune and
Chicago Tribune.
CopYright 1919


Constantinople via Paris, Dec 13-
1t is reported here that President Will
son will ask the American people to ap-
prove a mandate for Turkey. This in
formation has been received with great
interest in Constantinople where Uncle
Sam is maintaining strict official neu-
trality in the struggle for commercial
supremacy in the Near East.
Americans here, who believe that the
| United States is too much involved in
| European politics, are not pleased to
hear it will go in deeper.
| Let the league of nations do it." is
the way they feel about Turkey.
Others who represent corporations ac-
| tive in foreign trade are pleased. They
have visions of an immense boom in
| business,
Lloyd George undoubtedly was ac-
quainted with the attitude at Washing
ton when he announced in a speech a
short time ago that Great Britain had
its hands full to set in order territory
1t had acquired during the war. That
address unified English opinion on the
Turkish question. But if the United
States declines the honor there is always
the possibility that England may recon-
sider especially now that it holds the
Bagdad railroad.
Investigation In Doubt.
The proposal that the United States
take the mandate for Armenia alone
seems to have been dropped except by
the Armenian propaganda bureau. Amer
ican investigators disapproved such
mandate almost unanim ously
These Investigators, however, are not
all agreed that the United States should
take mandate for Turkey 1t is esti-
mated authoritatvely that the mandate
would require upwards Of 1O0,0 900 Ameri-
can troops In Turkey for from one to
five years. Opponents of the mandate
sanction sending such a large number
Of men overseas for the purpose Of plac-
ing Turkey on its feet.
They also express themselves as un-
able to realize the existence of a moral
obligation to shoulder the mandate They
admit such an obligation existed in Cuba
after the Spanish lost the island but
see no similarity between the two sit
uations
1t Is conceded that the nation which
Big Brothered" the Turks would dom
mate the foreign trade Of some two hun
dred million inhabitants of Turkey. Bull
garia. Rumania and large section of
Russia. 1t also would have the best
opportunity to invest advantageously
hundreds Of millions of dollars for the
development of natural resources.
Needs Much Coal.
For example Turkey consumes 5.OO0,-
600 tons of coal annually. Tt produces
only one million tons. There are extern
sive coal deposits in the country await
ing capital and transportation. There
never has been a geological survey of
Turkey. Judging from what enterprising
foreign capital has found independently
a geological survey should reveal col
ossal mineral wealth in which oil and
manganese loom large. Wonders may be
worked In increasing production in
staples such as silk, tobacco. opium and
hard woods by the introduction of Ameri-
can methods.
Incidentally it may be the interest of
the United States to place Turkey in such
position it could pay off the national
debt, which aggregates about SS,0O0.000,-
900. The debt is now managed-for
want Of a better worldly France and
England. France is the largest creditor.
If Turkey paid it's debt to France the
latter would have enough ready money
to pay the United States what 1t bor-
rowed during the war.
Altogether the mandate is considered
probably the richest commercial prize in
the world today. Yet the dangers of
conflict with nations which have inter
ests in Turkey are SO many that the
antis ask: why take the chance"