The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-27
ALLIES NO
TO TURKS PLEA
TO SHOW MERCY
Note Asking Restoration of
Empire Brings Denuncia-
ton of Rule.
ATROCITIES UNEQUALLED
yictors Will Aid Peoples, Is
Answer to Appeal From :
Peace Delegates.

PARIS, June rs. - The statement OF
p,mad Ferid (SheriO Pasha, delivered
10 the Council OF Ten on Tuesday, June
II, respecting the Turkish position. and
also the reply of the allied and associated
Powers dated June 25, were made public
to-day. The Turkish note follows:
gentlemen: should not be bold
enough to come before this high assem-
bly, II / thought that the Ottoman peo-
pls had incurred any share of RESPONSE
bllity in the war which has ravsged Eu-
rome and Asia with fire and sword.
IL apologize in advance for the de-
yelopment which l must give to my
statement, for l am in point of fact
defending to-day before the public opin-
ion of the whole world and before his
tory a most complicated and ill-under-
stood case.
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. II IL far
from my thought to cast a veil over
these misdeeds, which are such as to
make the conscience Of mankind shud-
der with horror forever. Still less will
I endeavor to minimize the degree of
guilt Of the actors In the great drama
The aim which Ihave 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.
"we are under no illusions in regard
h the extent of the dissatisfaction which
surrounds US: We are absolutely con-
WINGED that mass Of unfortunate events
has made Turkey appear In an unfavor-
able light However. when the truth has
once been brought to light 1t will warn
civilized nations and posterity against
passing an unjust judgment upon US.
Treaties Unknown to Turkey.
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 Admiral--rests entirely
with the sign1tories Of the secret treaties.
which were unknown alike to the OF
toman people and to the European Chan
celleries
These agreements were concluded be-
tween the Government of the Kaiser and
the heads Of the revolutionary commit
tee, who, at the beginning of 1914 had
placed themselves in power by means
OF coup d'etat. / call to witness the
official dispatches exchanged between
the representatives 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 Constautinople was skilfully
represented to-the people as an immi-
nent danger.a ana anxiety for the pres
ervation Of national existence thereupon
rendered the struggle a desperate one.
Our archives are, moreover. thrown en-
trely open TO an inquiry when would
enable the statements which have the
honor to make to this high assembly to
be amply confirmed.
IN regard to the other tragic events
beg leave to repeat here the declara-
tons which have repeatedly made to
the Ottoman Senate. Turkey deplores
The murder Of a great number Of her
Christian conationals as much as she
does that OF Moslenis, properly speaking.
In point OF fact. the committee of
union and progress. not content with the
crimes perpetrated against Christians,
condemned to death by every means
100000 Moslems.
Many Thousand Wanderers.
Several hundreds of thousands Of I'M
fortunate beings, hunted from their
homes, are stili wandering about to-day
in the middle OF Asia Minor without
shelter and without any relief for their
very existence. And even II they re-
turned TO their provinces they would
find themselves just as destitute, for a
large number OF towns and villages, both
Moslem and Christian, have been COM
pletely destroyed. Asia Minor is to-day
nothing but a vast heap of ruins.
The new Government, notwithstand'
Ing its vigilant care. has been as yet
unable TO mitigate the disastrous effects
OF the cataclysm. 1t will always be
easily possible to confirm my assertions
By an inquiry undertaken on the spot
1T is necessary. however. to dismiss
any theory of racial conflict or any
explosion Of religious fanaticism. More
over the Turkish people, a. time wher
violence could strive successfully against
right, showed itself able to respect the
lives, the honor and the sacred feelings
Of the Christian nations subject to it;
laws. 1t would be fairer to judge thu
Ottoman nation by its long history as 4
whole rather than by a single period
which shows II in the most disadvan
taseous light.
Whatever be the names by which
they are called. the principles and tht
methods OF both Russian and Turkish
revolution are the same, namely. TO de-
stroy society in order to seize its ruini
by putting its members out of the way
and taking possession OF their property
Ci-op" and America are endeavoring. q
The cost of immense sacrifices. to deliver
The AL