New-York tribune., 1919-06-27

them not less than Christians, that
they were entirely out of harmony with
the Turkish tradition, as historically
exhibited in the treatment by Turkey
of subject races, that the maintenance
of the Turkish empire is necessary for
the religious equilibrium of the world,
SO that, policy, not less than justice,
requires that its territories should be
restored undiminished, as they existed
when the war broke out.
The council can neither accept this
conclusion nor the arguments by which
1T is supported. They do not, indeed,
doubt that the present government Of
Turkey profoundly disapproves of the
policy pursued by it's predecessors.
Even if considerations of morality did
not weigh with it-as doubtless they
of expediency would
be conclusive. AS individuals, its mem
bers have every motive, as we'll as
every right, to repudiate the actions
which have proved so disastrous to
their country.
But, speaking generally, a nation
must be judged by the government
which rules it, which directs its for
elgn policy, which controls it's armies.
Nor can Turkey claim any relief from
the legitimate consequences of this
doctrine merely because her affairs, at
a most critical moment in her his
tory, had fallen into the hands of men,
who, utterly devoid of the principle of
pity, could not even command success.
Wishes Well to People
ut seems, however, that the claim
for complete territorial restoration put
forward in the memorandum is not
based really on the plea that Turkey
should not be required to suffer for
the sins of her ministers. 1t has a
deeper ground. 1t appeals to the his
tory of Turkish rule in the past and
to the conditions of affairs in the
Moslem world
Now. the council is anxious not to
enter into unnecessary controversy. or
to inflict needless pain on YOUR ex-
cellency and the delegates who accom-
pany you. 1t wishes we'll to the Turk
ish people and admires their excellent
qualities. But it cannot admit that
among those qualities are to be counted
capacity to rule over alien races. The
experiment has been tried too long
and too often for there to be the least
doubt as to its result.
History tells US of many Turkish
successes and of many Turkish defeats
of nations conquered and nations
freed.
"The memorandum itself refers to
the reductions that have taken place
IN the territories recently under Otto
man sovereignty. Yet in all these
changes there is no case to be found,
either in Europe, or Asia, or Africa, in
which the establishment of Turkish
rule in any country has not been fol-
lowed by a diminution Of material
prosperity and fall in the level of
culture. Nor is there any case to be
found in which the withdrawal Of
Turkish rule has not been followed by
growth in material prosperity and a
rise in the level of culture
"Neither among the Christians of
Europe nor among the Moslems of
Syria, Arabia and Africa has the Turk
done other than destroy wherever he
has conquered; never has he shown
himself able to develop in peace what
he has won by war Not in this direc-
tion do his talents lie.
"The obvious conclusion from these
facts would seem to be that, since Tur-
key has, without the least excuse or
provocation, deliberately attacked the
Entente powers and been defeated, she
has thrown upon the victors the heavy
duty Of determining the destiny of the
various populations in her heterogene-
Gus empire. This duty the council of
the principal Allied ana associated DOW
ers desires to carry out so far as may