The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-11-26
GROUP FIGHTS !,
APPROVAL Of
TURK TREATY
Leading Citizens Meet to
Frustrate u. S. Approval
of Lausanne Pact
REASONS ARE CITED
Former Ambassador to Ger
many Gerard Is One Of
The Leaders

movement to illustrate ratification of
the Lausanne treaty by the United
States senate was undertaken ut
the Yale club by n group Of infiu-
tntial Americans headed by James
w. Gerard, former ambassador to
Germany and now chairman Of the
American committee for the inde-
pendence Of Armenia.
A memorandum previously signed
by 100 statesmen, high army Off
GERS. fnanciers. church officials, edi-
tors and foreign relief workers was
approved for presentation to Presi-
dent Coolidge, Secretary Of State
Hughes and individual senator's be-
fore whom the treaty will come for
ratification at the forthcoming ses-
sion Of congress.
The document charges that the
state departments ENJOYS at Lau-
same sacrificed to Mustapha Kemal
the rights of American citizens in
Turkey, and threw overheard the
Armenian people, whom this coun-
try was pledged to protect-in ex-
change for the Chester concessions
to few American businessmen,
since transferred to alien control.
ut is morally an indefensible
treaty" said the memorandum. 1T
is an utterly humiliating and pur-
poseless treaty. 1t surrenders every
American right, in Turkey. 1t rem
ders impossible the continuance of
American education and philan-
thropic enterprises in that country.
1t ignores our solemn pledge to
Armenia.
Kemal Regime Threatened.
"The economic Concessions it
purports to secure for q few Ameri-
cans are now admitted to be Of
dubious value, and have already
been transferred into alien hands.
"Thc Turks have broken thus
early their promises of good be-
havior and their guarantees to our
MISS onaries and to the remnants
of Christians in Turkey. All re-
ports which have recently reached
the outside world from Turkish and
foreign sources show that factional
armed conflicts, widespread banditry
and hopeless economic chaos seri-
ously threaten Kemal's regime, and
that the task which confronts this
government> is, according to the
admission of it's own leaders. u
truly impossible one. -
1--WE believe that the honor Of
America, no less than every dictate
of reason, demands tnat the senate
reject the Lausanne treaty"
The treaty is attacked on seven
points, signers Of the memorandum
asserting that:
"Our nationals in Turkeys are to
be deprived of the protection of the
American consular courts-a prero-
gative they have enjoyed since 1892
and made subject to the notorious
ly corrupt Turkish police and courts.
"Our missionary institutions in
Turkey are to be likewise subject to
Turkish laws. The question Of in
IDENTITIES suffered by Americans
through arbitrary and illegal acts is
left for later discussion. Our mer-
chant vessels may, as in the past,
pass through the Dardanelles which,
however, may be closed at the will
of the Turks as was done in 1914.
"Our archaeo1ogists I enjoy the
same rights that are enjoyed by
Turkish archaelogists. This only re-
quires the comment that there never
have been any Turkish archaelogists.
"The open door-we resume our
former privilege to trade with ana
invest in Turkey. The Importance Of
that privilege may be gauged by the
fact that in 1913, when Turkeys esti-
mated population. was l7,5O0,O00,
American exports to that country
! amounted to $3,313,S21 or 16 cents
/! per capita. The population Of Tur-
key now is only about 100000.
Protected minorities are to enjoy
J the protection Of Turkish laws-as
in the past. Since 1774 Turkey has
solemnly agreed in 81 international
documents, to protect the Christians"