Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-11
Carving Turkey by Secret
Agreements
V.YE come now to the most IL
W Eliminating of all the exhi-
hifA of the old dinlnm acX--

I'VE come now to the most IL
W Eliminating of all the exhi-
bits OF the old diplomacy
The group of secret treaties" "ar-
rRngements. conversations" by
which tho old Turkish Empire was
to DO carved up between the allied
nations. We can now set forth
not only the terms OF these trca-
ties but the whole enlightening
history OF their stormy progress
through the Peace Conference.
where in secret councils the real
purposes OF the nations were
bluntly set forth.
Turkey was by all odds the rich
est spoils OF the war. richer than
Shantung. There were in Iced
the Pacific. there were thin Dor
der provinces in Europe like AL
sace-Lorraine and Dalmatia, but
none OF them compared in sheer
undeveloped wealth with the old
Turks. Here were untouched de-
posits Of oil, copper. silver, salt;
vast riches in agricultural and
easily within reach OF the irriga-
ton engineer. Here, above all,
were large and industrious popu-
lations, long enured to labor,
which. given a stable government.
would Immediately become great
producers OF wealth and creators
OF trade. Moreover the breakup
OF Turkey meant new arrange
ments in Egypt and new possibili-
ties OF opening to communication
and exploitation another old en-
pire-that OF Persia. The control
OF the Mediterranean also turned
upon the possession OF the coastal
cities OF Asia Minor. Syria and
Palestine.
Germany had had a clear vision
or the enormous Importance OF the
Near East. Before the war she
had projected and partly built t,.e
Berlin-Bagdad railroad and had
attempted peaceful penetration"
by every means in her poweT. The
great war has even described as
primarily struggle for the DOM
ination of the Near East.
IL was quite natural that allied
diplomats, once the war broke out
should begin to consider what
would happen IL they won and
Germany lost: What was 10 be
done with Turkey?
In the case OF the secret treaties
with Italy, Rumania and possibly
Japan. the allies had the excuse
that such arrangements were nee
essary in order 10 bring IN new
nation. 10 support the allied cause
in their desperate struggle with
Germany, but IN the case OF the
Turkish treaties. except possibly
for the slice OF Turkish territory
excuse. These were frankly ar-
rangements for the division OF the
spo.ls OF tho war.
Secret negotiations began al
most at once, and in the Spring
OF 1915 the very first OF the i'm
portant secret treaties among the
allies described in the last ar
Hcle), gave Russia. provided the
war IS successfully terminated, -
her ancient ambition-Constan
tinople. Great Britain IN return
! u
but vast 'satisfactions
within the Ottoman Empire. and
in other places"
Italy Bargain in Turkey
So far. SO good. But about the
same time the allies were raising
Heaven and earth TO get Italy into
the war Germany and Austria
had dsngled glittering offers be-
fore the Italians TO get them in on
their side. Italy knew her power
and drove hard bargain with the
allies. She also looked with long
Ing eyes toward the Turkish treas
ure-house and provided IN the
London treaty talso described in
the last article for right. in
case OF the partition OF Turkey
TO q share equal to theirs (GTeat
Britain, France and RUSSIA in the
basin of the Mediterranean-th
part OF It which adjoins the pro
vince OF Adalia."
These rights" and shares
were vague. especially after Italy
came in. and 10 the diplomats
particularly the French, extremely
unsatisfactory. For the British
were actually on the ground ant
had been negotiating with th'
Arab King, Hussein, as to Thu
creation OF an independent Arai
tate in return for Arab assistance
in the war. The French were
fearful that the British would be
come too powerful IN that part o
the world, get too strong a grill
on Turkey. Therefore, they begai
negotiation with their old friend
the Russians, and at the SAM
time demanded Showdown
with the British. The result wa
two new secret treaties devotet
wholly TO the disposal OF Turkey.
First, the Sazonoy-Paleologu
treaty between Russia and Franc
disclosed in a memorandum o
the old Russian Foreign Offlc
dated a year later, March, 1917
dealing with Northern Asiati
Turkey. Under this arrangement
Russia staked out vast domain
$4,000 square miles. between tn
Persian frontier and the BlacI
Sea, with rich resources Of COP
per, silver and salt. The fortres
OF Erzerum and the importan
Part Of Trebizond were include
In this territory.
The French for their shar
were given a great slice TO tn
south and west reaching to tn
Mediterranean, the actual boun
daries Of which she was to deter
mine by arrangements with tn
'ritish.
Second. Northern Turkey hay