The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-11
Turk and TeutOn

Ambassador Moruenthau's Story Of
. Great War FIots
BY HENRY MORGENTHAU,

Continued from previous issue>
had my farewell interview with En-
YER and Ialaat on the thirteenth OF
January Both men were IN their most
delightful mood Evidently both were
turning over in their minds, AS was !,
all the mOmontouS events that had
taken place In Turkey, and in the world,
since my first meeting with them two
Years before. Then HalaNt and EnNCr
were merely desperate acventurers who
had reached high position by aSsasSi-
nation and intrigue; their position was
Insecure, for at any umeu another
revolution might plunge them into the
ohscurity from which tney had sprung
Hut now they We're the unQuCSttOuCd
despotS of the ottoman empire, the
altes Of the then strongest military
power IN the world n the Conquerors
at least they 81 regarded themselves
OF the British navy At this moment
W their great triumph-the allied eN-
petition to the hArdanellCs had oNatu-
atrd their positions only two weeks b."
turG-huth Talaat and EnVer regarded
their country again as Il world power.
Il lear YOU are going home to spend
a lot OF money and re-eleCt your prosi-
dent said TalaHt this being a joCular
reference To the tact that | was the
chairman Of the finance committee "
the Democratic national committee.
'ThNts very foolish why don't YOU
stay here and give it to Turkey We
need 1t more than your people do
But we hope YOU are coming back
soon he added. "C feel almost AS
though You were one vt us. GU II
we have really grown up together. you
ann here about the same time that
We took office. and we don't know how
We could ever get so we'll acquainted
with another man We have grown fond
OF you, too. We have had our dnfar-
cuCeS, and pretty lively ones AZ times,
hut we have always found YOU fair.
and We respect American policy in
Turkey as YOU haze represented il We
don't like TO see You 50, oven for a
few months.'
1 expressed my pleasure at these
words.
"Its very nice to hear YOU talk that
way" answered. Since YOU natter
me So much, | know that q win he
willing to promise me certain things
Since | have you both here together
this is my chance to put YOU on REQ
ord. VIII . treat the people in my
charge CONSIDERABLY, Just the same as
though | were herc2'
AS to the American missionaries
aud colleges and schools, said ralaat.
and EnNcr assoulcd, I'VE give YOU an
absolute promise. they viii not he
molested in the slightest degree, hut
a go ON doing their work Just the
same as before. Your mind can rest
easily on that score
"lIow about the British and F~rench2'
| asked.
"Oh, we'll" said TaIuat. smiling. 1--WE
may have to have a little fun with them
now and then, but don't worry. Wen
take good care Of them"
Ana now for the last timc ! spoke
on the subject that had rested so
heavily ON my mind Tor many months.
faaI,I that ntA,thar tt,A,1 V,n1l L.,
useless, hut | decided TO mako It.
"llow about the Armeuiaus?"
Talaats geniality disappeared In an
instant, His face hardened and the
fire Of the beast lighted UP his eyes
once more.
What's the use Of speaking about
thom"' he said. waving his hand. I'VE
are through with them. That's all
over.
Such was my farewell with Talaat.
'Thats all over were his last words
to me.
The next day | had my farewell au-
dicnCe with the sultan. lie was the
same gracious, kindly old gentleman
that | had first met two years before
lie received me informally, in civilian
European clothes. and asked me to stt
down with him. We talked for 20 min.
the pleasant relations that prevailed
between America and Turkey. He
thanked me for the interest which
had taken in his country and hoped
that | would soon return. Then he
took up the question of war auC
peace.
Every monarch naturally desire,
peace" he said None Of us appr0RI
the shedding of blood, But there ar,
times when war seems unavoidable. w,
may wish to settle our disputes AMIGA
bly,, hut we cannot always do It. Thi
.Aat.F 80 L.. 900 - ~ a.
British ambassador that we did no
wish TO go to war with his country.
tell you the same thing now. But Tur
key had to defend her rights, Russlt
attacked us; and naturally we had I,
defend ourselves. Thus the war wal
not the result of any planning ON GU
part 1t was an act Of Allah-it wa
fate"
| expressed the hope that 1t Nigh
Don he over.
YES. we wish peace also" replied
his majesty, "Rut 1t must be n peac,
that Will guarantee the rights Of on
empire, am sure that n civilized anI
flourishing country like America want
peace, and she should exert all her eff
forts to bring about n peace that shall
be permanent"
One Of the s~ultan's statements In thi
interview left n lasting impression, Tha
was his assertion that Russia attaCkel
us" That the supplemented old gen
tleman believed this was apparent; /
was also clear that he knew notAinI
Of the real facts-that Turkish war
ships, under German officers. ha,
l plunged Turkey into the wal by bonn
y harding Russian seaports. Instead q
telling him the truth the Young Turk
leaders had foisted upon the sultan thi
y fiction of Russia as the aEEressOr. TIL
interview showed precisely to what cX
, tent the oatensihle ruler Of Turkey wa