The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-06
AMERICA IN TURKEY.
Our Former Ambassador to Austria
Says There Should Be No Ameri-
can Mandate over Constantinople
Our Role In the Near East.

Says There Should Be No Ameri-
can Mandate over ConstantinopIe
Our Role In the Near East.
To THE EDITOR OF THE 5uN--s'r: 1t
delights me to read the plan OF the
Peace Conference for practically retir-
ing the Ottoman Empire from the fam
lily Of European nations. and I trust
that the programme becomes concrete
when the Turkish delegates are brought
to France.
The cringing appeals OF the Sultan for
generous consideration because he came
to the throne in the midst Of the war
and In the making of which he had no
part should pass unheard. 1t Is unre-
corded that he once took any step APP
pealing to peace until his beaten armies
had collapsed as a result Of General AL
lenby's triumphs in Palestine. Never
was there a claim that the new Sultan
had any opinions varying from those Of
his German controlled brother. the
stupid Mehemet v. Yet the Sultan re-
mains the only sovereign OF the Central
strange evidence OF the eccentricities
Of fate.
The Big Four announced a month
since from Paris that Egypt Ia now a
British protectorate. and the confirma-
ton later will probably perfect Britain's
title to the land OF the Pharaohs. A
fortnight ago Greece was formally in
stalled as mandatory over Smyrna, with
the step validated by the fleets of the
Allies outside Smyrna harbor. and we
read that the event caused q mild panic
at Constantinople.
Jerusalem and Mecca, shrines of great
religions, have by the war been re-
deemed from Turkish misrule, the lat
ter carrying with It so much Arabian
territory that the Kingdom OF the Hedjaz
Is a political fact Doubtless form
Of autonomy amounting to independence
is TO fall to Armenia by mandate over
the country whose soil for twenty years
has run red with Christian blood by
reason OF Mohammedan hatred. The
whole of Mesopotamia is now British :
France expects to possess Syria, while
Italy, Rumania and Serbia are to re-
ceive generous territorial reward for
helping to bring success in the world
war.
With these losses OF territory II Ia
main for Turkish rule.
1t is pleasant to read that the alb
scondng Enver Pasha has been appre-
hended in his hiding place in the eau
casian Mountains. and the presumption
is that the knave will be tried for his
potential share in bringing Turkey into
the war. He was the Kaiser's active
agent. and the responsibility for hun
dreds Of thousands OF murders rests
upon his head. When this worthy eff
fected his getaway from the Bosporus
re took with him che last few millions
in the Sultan's cash box. Hanging may
be his punishment. while his accom-
pllces in crime. Talaat and Djemal. when
surrendered to Justice may expect sum
mary punishment.
Another tool in Germany's exploita-
ton OF Turkey was the Sheikh- islam.
head Of tho Mohammedan faith, who
was so completely controlled from Ber-
lin and Potsdam that in the name OF
Allah he sought to arouse hatred OF all
Christians by formally procla inning at
Constantinople. with high German on
GERS on the platform with him, q holy war
against the Allies In all Moslem lands.
This fanatic also provided German
agents with Inducements to the lead
ers of the Senussi tribes of northern
war upon British troops In Egypt and
ir the desert to the westward OF the
Nile. Fortunately both moves proved
abortive. hut what the scoundrel did
was dastardly and his punishment
should be severe.
For a decade Turkey has been hope
lessly bankrupt, and the country owes
more per capita than any European ma
ton. 1t is even believed that the debt
Is greater than the national value. The
heaviest creditors are France and Great
Britain. and II Is but natural that these
nations would be delighted TO have Uncle
Sam take charge OF what remains OF
the Ottoman Empire, to police the land.
adjust the finances and save for then
out OF the wreck all that In possible.
Germany advanced an enormous sum
to keep Turkey in the war and Berlin
is certain to put up n fight to recover
this cash from somebody, and the wran-
sling will probably last for years No
American can be keener for the League
OF Nations. but l cannot believe that
II is any part OF our moral duty to pull
the chestnuts out Of the Turkish embers
for the material benefit OF European
Powers long having close relations with
10 I
amiable Uncle Sam go into Anatolia
with any administrative responsibility,
Only as a temporary expedlent should
americans favor a mandate over Ar
aspiring with justice to become
a Christian State with independence
by the Powers-this is as
far as America should be obligated in
cleaning up what remains OF the empire
of the Osmanlis. in my judgment. HUI
will compel us for n long time
to help feed Constantinople and Ar
as we'll as starved Austria and
tho Balkans, and this We should be
Happy to do.
II was refreshing to read last week
that former Ambss sador Straus had said
at Paris that all manufactures in the
Near East should be assumed by Euro
pean nations. and that 1t would be suf-
hcient for the United States under the
Of the League OF Nations
to take care of the Western Hemisphere.
To my thinking no saner opinion has
lately come over the Atlantic cables.
Mr., straus was emphatic in stating that
Uncle Sam should not mix huma nitarian
and political interests. and he was