New-York tribune., 1922-10-08
Economic Pressure on Turk
Leader Is Proposed to Guard
American Rights

careful attention Of the State Depart
ment, for unless steps are taken TO
see that the action of the Allies in this
matter does not prejudice our interests
we may find ourselves in an awkward
and lonely position.
A second and obvious question ia the
future status of the Straits. The do
velopment Of our shipping and com
merce in the Near East and our
ability to secure just treatment at Con-
stantinople require most careful pro-
vision in this field Of negotiation and
settlement. Rivalry for trade is in
creasing in Turkish waters. We are
new comers and we have already ex-
perienced the realities Of Allied In
trigue and jealousy. The American
chamber of Commerce at CONSTANT
nople has spoken very clearly on this
whole matter. American business in
terests have now TO realize that a
settlement is soon to be arrived Mt
which may endure for many years.
A third question, on which Secretary
Hughes has already spoken, is the
tangled and blood-soaked problem of
the Christian minorities. Complete seq
regarion Of the remnants of the
Armenian nation may be necessary.
Along the sea coasts Of Asia Minor and
in Thrace there is large Greek popu-
lation. There is also a considerable
number Of Bulgarians in Thrace. The
present problem is that of the destruc.
ton or the protection of important
racial elements in the Near East. It is a
task for the Christian world. That
the Turk cannot be trusted to carry
out the most solemn promises in such
matters has been abundantly shown.
For the last few years Americans
have been asked to give largely to re-
lieve the distress of peoples whom the
Turks have wished deliberately to ex-
terminate. At present there is no
guarantee that our private charity may
not be indefinitely required. Indeed
at Washington they have spoken CT
perennial" massacre and trouble. Our
duty has apparently become to clear W
year after year the mess that others
have made. We pour out millions
while the Turk pulls out the plug and
the stream Of charity flows away
Even for those of US who do not ac-
cept the ideal of our moral RESPONSE
bility as Christian and humanitarian
people this problem of minorities has
become a question of western and
American efficiency.
How Dong is the United States to be
the chief undertaken of the Near East :?
We bury the dead and care for the
orphans, but neglect preventive meas
ures againat the plague of racial and
religious animosity. Effective settle
ment Of this problem cries to heaven.
Isolated action is unnecessary; but
cordial and non-partisan cooperation
with the rest of the Christian world is
still possible to salvage the terror
stricken minorities. Only in this way
can we avoid the shame of further de-
lay and guarantee the effectiveness and
the constructive character of our
private charity
Economic Pressure |
On Kemal Is Proposed
AS practical matter our moral in |
fuence may now be of small account.
We can continue to use it, but there |
may be other methods as well. We !
know the Turkish authorities are anx-
tous to resume diplomatic relations i
with the United States. Kemal Pasha
has often spoken of his desire to in
terest American capital in the devel-