New-York tribune., 1922-10-08

opnent of Turkey. loan Is urgently
needed for restoration work. If the
turks understood that the RESUMPTION
cS relations with the United States
and the investment OF American capi-
tai were dependent on the conduct of
his government a powerful lever might
be used to reduce the horrors which
are at present perennial under hi,
rule.
Furthermore, in view of the coming
peace conference there is the neces-
sity for the protection of American in
terests as to the Straits and trade in
general and as to the awkward matter
OF the capitulations. We can scarcely
trust the Allies or the Turk to look
after our rights. Therefore, unless &C
tive measures are initiated both phil
anthropic and business interests will
suffer.
In respect to possible participation
in the peace negotiations the United
States is in an awkward position. The
general terms of the political settle
ment are probably determined. As
we have seen, they include the return
of practically all of Asia Minor, part
Of Thrace and Constantinople to the
Turks. A large section of American
opinion is opposed to this result.
America, therefore, finds herself in the
same position that she faced at the
time of the call of the Genoa confer
ence. The invitation to Genoa was
fixed by the terms of the Cannes pro-
tocol. In this we were not consulted.
and to its general implications we were
opposed. Naturally, for this and other
reasons we did not go to Genoa The
same may be true with regard to the
coming conference at Venice or else
where. At least we could take refuge
behind such reasoning to avoid full
representation at such meeting.
1t is doubtful whether representa-
ton merely by an official observer at
the coming peace negotiations would
sufficiently protect our interests. There
is, however, another possibility. We
have already shown our unwillingness
to participate in or to sanction Euro
pean political or territorial settle
ments. Yet, as we have seen, there will
be other problems before the peace
conference In which we are concerned.
In this respect the method Of limited
representation as adopted at the Wash
ington conference might very we'll
serve US. There naval questions which
concerned only five powers were set
tied at the same time and by the same
plenipotentiarie VINO aiso sat with the
plenipotentiaries of other nations to
consider Far Eastern questions. Still
another set of negotiations produced
the four-power treaty.
% By the application of this same in
genious and effective method which {
Secretary Hughes used so successfully
last winter the United States could and
should be represented at the coming
peace conference to protect American
interests and to maintain American
opinion and sentiment with regard to
particular questions. These would be
notably the capitulations. the freedom
and of our trade and the
status Of Christian minorities. Other
matters might arise, but these four
matters stand out clearly at present.
United States in matters which we have
already specifically stated we did not
wish to touch. 1t may save US from
the dilemma which we would face if, in
with the settlement in the
Near East, one or all of the Allies
should ask US to mediate in the name
of humanity and to prevent the possi-
bility of another European war. Ger
tainly to negotiate later and alone with
q resurgent and militant Turkey after
the Allies have settled their affairs will
be much more difficult. We might en-
counter inconvenient precedents which
at present do not exist.
In the last analysis such a sugges-
tion rests fundamentally upon the be-
lief that the United States must alone
protect American interests in TURKEY,
that the occasion is imminent, and that
American opinion would now support
our active and full representation as to
these particular American and humani-
tartan interests.