Evening star., 1923-10-13

1t makes no particular difference
who won the war, apparently, so far
as Turkey is concerned. This Is con-
ceded by editors near and far as they
review the turning back to Turkish
domination of Constantinople and
European Turkey. AS a result of the
triumph over the Greeks, and the
adroit diplomacy of her delegates at
Lausanne. for the first time in about
three quarters of a century Turkey
finds herself free from the control or
interference of European powers. The
Star and Crescent has replaced the
flags of the allied nations where they
! have flown over Turkish barracks and
government buildings for more than
three years. Constantinople and
Turkey once more are in the hands of
the Turks and they are again fully
as strong, il not even stronger, than
when the great war broke out. The
next move is to be the completion of
the Turkish republic to take the place
of the absolutiSm which was the
vogue under the various sultans.
Whether this will mean an end, how
ever, of the massacre of Christians is
matter on which there is grave
doubt expressed in the United States.
But it is accepted that only time will
tell and in the meantime Turkey con-
tinues a subject for sharp discussion
everywhere.
The opposition toward kemal Pasha,
evident since the end of the Lausanne
conference. is likely to have a serious
effect on the Turkish economic situa-
Ia
future, inasmuch as that opposition is
based on failure to regain foreign
trade as rapidly as the government
had hoped, although 1T is an open
question whether the New Turks un-
der Kemal would ever show any de-
cided improvement. At all events, the
more troubles and dangers there are
in Turkey, and from Turkey, the more
culpable will become those European
nations which, through inability to
leave off petty jealousies and in
trigues, made the Turk person of
Importance in the worlds scheme Of
things" This view, however, does not
have the Endorsement of the Detroit
Free Press, which on It's part believes
"the Turks are really standing at the
Brooklyn Eagle, which feels Turkey
now has an excellent opportunity to
prove to the world her capacity for
self-government, with foreign capi-
talists and engineers already COM
peting for an opportunity to develop
her resources" The new constitution
is European, rather than American"
as the Baltimore Sun sees 1t, but how
it will work in practice is doubtful.
the Atlanta Journal points out, mas
much as ''since the Turk emerged
from Asia some 700 years ago he has
contributed nothing to civilization ex-
Icept trouble. and has assimflated from
1t little except vices If he is to re-
deem the record 1t behooves him to
make haste, although If new Turkey
sets forth to merit mankind's good
will she certainly should receive un-
stinted encouragement"
There is grim portent In Turkey to
the Turks" as the Muskegon Chron-
icle reviews the latest development,
because it means Christian Armenia
receives abandonment to the fury of
the Moslem and isolation from possi-
BILE succor as it's reward for casting
its lot with the allies This is Chris
tendom's recompense for the blood of
Armenia's million and half victims
of Turkish butchery, a third of its
population sacrificed" In addition,
the Springfield News points out, Fthe
near east always is a volcano, apt to
break loose with menace to Europe.
AS long as Turkey is foot free, bound
only lightly by obligations to the
world. she may be counted upon to
be in the thick Of the trouble when
it starts The st. Paul Dispatch is
convinced the departure of the last
of the allied troops was the final
fruition of Turkish victory. The de-
feat of the great war retrieved, its
last symbols out of sight and mind,
Turkey celebrates the recovery of