Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-27


a plea for the continuance OF the Ola
Turkish empire. was submitted to the
council of ten on Tuesday by the
Turkish delegation. The memoran-
dunn set forth that the Turkish gov
eminent was prepared to recognize
the independence of Armenia and to
grant some form Of autonomous gov
eminent to Palestine and Ara bla, un-
der Turkish governors.
Turkish Statement.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS. June 26.-The statement of
pamad Ferid (SheriD Pasha, deliv-
cred to the council of ten on Tuesday,
June L. respecting the Turkish posi-
tion and also the reply of the allled
and associated powers, dated June 20,
were made public today. Inc turkish
note follows:
Gentlemen: I should not be bold
enough to come before this high as
sembly if l thought that the Ottoman
people had incurred any share of re-
sponsibility in the war which has raw
aged Europe and Asia with fire and
sword.
Il apologize in advance for the de-
velopment which 1 must give to my
statement, for l am. in point of fact,
defending today before the public
opinion of the whole world and before
history a most complicated and ILL
understood case.
Shocked by Alleged Crimes.
In the course of the war nearly
the whole civilized world was shocked
by the recital of the crimes alleged
to have been committed by the Turks.
1t is far from my thought to cast
veil over these misdeeds, which are
such as to make the conscience of
mankind shudder with horror forever.
Still less will 1 endeavor to minimize
the degree of guilt Of the actors in
the great drama. The aim which 1
have set for myself is that Of showing
to the world. with proofs in my hand,
who are the truly responsible authors
of these terrible crimes.
I'VE are under no illusions in regard
to the extent of the dissatisfaction
which surrounds US; we are absolute
ly convinced that a mass of unfortu
nate events has made Turkey appear
in an unfavorable light. However,
when the truth has once been brought
to light 1t will warn civilized nations
and posterity against passing an I'M
just judgment upon US.
Huns Assumed Responsibility.
The responsibility for the war in
the east-assumed, without the
knowledge of the sovereign or of the
people, in the Black sea. by a German
ship, commanded by a German ad-
miral-rests entirely with the sigma
tories of the secret treaties, which
were unknown alike to the Ottoman
people and to the European chancel-
tories.
These agreements were concluded
between the government of the kali
ser and the heads of the revolution
airy committee, who, at the beginning
of 1914, had placed themselves in
power by means of a coup d'etat. l
call to witness the official dispatches
exchanged between the representa-
tives of France and Great Britain and
their respective governments during
the three months which preceded the
outbreak Of hostilities between Tur-
key and the empire of the cars
When war had once been declared
the eternal covetousness Of Russia as
regards Constantinople was skillfully
represented to the people as an immi-
nent danger and anxiety for the pres
ervation of national existence there
upon rendered the struggle a desper-
ate one. Our archives are, moreover
thrown entirely open to an inquiry
which would enable the statements
which l have the honor to make to
this high assembly to be amply con-
firmed.
Deplores Murders.