New-York tribune., 1922-10-21
Bishop Cannon
Again Hits y. s.
Turkish r. oIicy
Second Letter 10 Hughes
Says keanal Warned of
Smyrna Massacre and
Showed Appeals Vain
Time for Force Arrived
Christendom's Duty to End
Slaughter of Miaoritses; !;
Holds Failure Disgrace
From Tho Tr.eane,s wdsasmoson Burseu

WASHINGTON, Oct 20. - sharp
criticism Of the Administration
policy of hands off in the military
activities in the Near East situation
10 made In the second communication
written by Bishop James Cannon jr.
Ito Secretary Of State Hughes, made
public to-day by the Washington head
quarters Of the missionary organiza-
ton represented by the protesting.
clergyman.
AT the State Department it was said
that Bishop Cannon's second letter had
not been received and no comment was
made on the reply, which was in re-
sponse to the cablegram recently dis
patched by Secretary Hughes in which
he took issue with the ciergyman's
charges of American inaction. In his
cablegram, Secretary Hughes set forth
the American policy with reference TO
the Near East and declared that the
government was taking appropriate
action" to safeguard American lives
and interests.
Bishop Cannon's reply, in part, fol-
lows:
II most heartily approve Of the ear
nest, searching appeal and protest Of
Admiral Bristol to the Angora leaders
on September 8. 1t was exceedingly
appropriate then, notwithstanding
Turkeys past bloody record. But this
appeal was met on September 10 by
| the cynical announcement by Kemal
| Pasha to the League Of Nations at
Geneva that he would not be respon-
sible FOR massacres owing to the high
strung spirit of the Turkish people,
and six days later by the fires, OUT
RACES and massacres of Smyrna, and
this Notwithstanding the appeals and
protests of united Christendom, in
Guiding the United States.
Action Ineffective
| "It is clearly evident that the apprc-
priate action had failed to accomplish
| It's purpose. Similar action was then
no longer appropriate as applied to
| Turkey, for 1t cannot be considered ap-
propriate to repeat an action which 1t
has been clearly shown is not effective.
Effectiveness is the final acid test OF
appropriateness When kemal
| announced to the civilized world that
! he would not be responsible for mas
sacres owing to the highs strung spirit
Of the Turkish people, by that very
| statement he himself declared that the
laws Of war recognized by the civilized
world would be violated by the Turkish
people. These laws forbid looting
outrage and slaughter of innocent
helpless non-combatants.
"What was sthe appropriate action
to be taken by our government in the
face Of the open declaration Of intended
lawlessness by the Turkish leader. M
declaration of war against Turkey was
necessary. not even violation of neu.
trality as between the Greeks and the
Turks, but since Kemal had announced
to the world that he could not prevent
massacres, then without relieving
unacceptable responsibility of Christen-
dom to prevent these predicted mas
! sacres, and because of our non-politicaI
| attitude, our commercial, educational,
missionary and relief agencies, the sap-
propriate actions,' rs I believe it, for
our government to have taken were:
FIRST, to announce that the rights
Of humanity as recognized by the civ
ilized world are paramount, and that
| to permit Turkey not only to threaten,
but to carry into effect the threat Of
the massacre of helpless, innocent nom
combatants without the most strenuous
| efforts being made to prevent it would
be an unreasonable, ineradicable dis
grace to the governments of the pres
| ent generation; and the second appro-
pirate action, believe, would have
| been for our government to call upo,.
the other nations Of the world to Join
us Immediately at Smyrna, not to wage
war on Turkey, not to take sides with
| the Greeks, but to protect Smyrna ana
the people there from the horrors for
| which Kemal had declared that he
would not be responsible. Such an a:-
| tion, believe. would have been ap-
propriate at that time, and in keeping