Evening star., 1923-10-13
Turkey, on Losing Side in War,
Emerges Supreme in Near East

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, if 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
! a 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 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-
ton, as the Nashville Banner sees the
future, inasmuch as that opposition is
based on failure to regain foreign
trade as rapidly as the government
had hoped, although cit 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 a person 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
dawn of a better day." or of the
Brooklyn Eagle. which feels Turkey
L
prove to the world her capacity for
| self-goyernment, 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
4 much as "since the Turk emerged
| from Asia some 700 years ago he has
contributed nothing to civilization ex-
| cept trouble and has assimilated from
| it little except vices. II he is to re-
! deem the record IL 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
icle reviews the latest development
because It means Christian Armenia
| receives abandonment TO the fury OF
ble succoT cor as its Stew Teward 40 for . eastins
/ 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, "the
| near east always is volcano, apt tc
| 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 tc
be in the thick Of the trouble wher
convinced the departure of the las
of the allied troops was the fna
| fruition of Turkish victory. The de-
feat of the great war retrieved. Its
last symbols out of sight and mind
Turkey celebrates the recovery o.