New-York tribune., 1922-10-03
Secretary of State Says
Administration Has No
Authority of Congress
for Further Action
Refers to Turks
Acts as Reprisals
Reminds Bishop U. S.
Sent Warning Before
Destruction of Smyrna
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.-Answer to
the demands Of hundreds Of church
organizations that this country fight,
If necessary, to protect Christians from
the Turk, was made by the Admins
tration to-day.
The answer came in cablegram
dispatched by Secretary of State
Hughes to Bishop James Cannon, of
the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, in reply to vigorous cable
sent by the Bishop to the Secretary.
"There has been no action by Con-
gress which would justify this gov
ernment in an attempt by armed
forces to pacify the Near East Or to
engage in acts Of war in order to ac-
complish the results you desire with
respect to the inhabitants Of that ter
ritory and to determine the problems
which have vexed Europe for genera
tions," Mr.. Hughes concluded
Bishop Cannon was quoted in an in
teryiew given after sending the cable
as saying that war would be justified
He quotes himself as saying in an
earlier interview: PERSONALLY believe
Christian America will insist govern
ment United States cooperate actively
to protect Christians in Asia Minor not
only automatically but if necessary
with army and navy to secure this
result"
Hughess Reply Called Mild
Secretary Hughes's reply asserts that
this government has done all that it
could have done, short of war, which
has not been authorized by Congress
to prevent outrages and to care for
the deported and oppressed. The note
is actually worded with extreme mild
ness, only once even pointing out that
there may be two sides to the story
This ts when he mentions the "re-
prisaIs effected" indicating that some
Of the actions of the Turks were in
spired by others committed by the
Greeks or Armenians.
In Administration circles the belief
that the Turks burned Smyrna, for
prevailing opinion is that the town was
fired by Armenian refugees.
\ A. high spokesman of the Admins
tration made the fiat statement to-day
that the government did not wish to
become involved in any war which
might arise out of this age old contro-
versy. 1t was pointed out also that
the Greeks in their retreat from Smyr-
ma had devastated everything as they
fell back. Hence the allusion in the
note to Bishop Cannon to "reprisals."
Further, it was stated to be the beller
of the Administration that Congress so
far from having authorized any war
acts, would not support participation
by military force in the effort to re-
strain the Turks, and that therefore
stronger words than have been used
already in an effort. to bring about
peace might become very embarrassing
to this government If the Turks dld
not choose to comply.
There were many illusions to-day
here in official circles to the strong
words put in the Lusitania notes, and
the resulting inability of this govern
ment to accomplish anything by words
later on.
Administration Alarmed
There is no Disgusting the fact that
the Administration is considerably
alarmed not only over the Near East
situation itself, but ever the propaa-
ganda which is sweeping over this
country in favor Of this government g s11
I'VE will do what we can without
going to war;" said one high official.
"The situation is very difficult, but
there is clean American attitude.
This is TO exert our influence for hu-
manity, peace and protection of Amer
lean interests. But to send troops to
the Near East in connection with other
matters would be to relate us to the
most difficult and dangerous European
entanglement.
"Our good people should speak with
discrimination. We are doing more
than any other people in relief work,
keenly interested in all questions OF
humanity and the protection of minor