Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-06
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Behind closed doors, in executive
session, the United States Senate is
discussing ratification of treaty with
| Turkey. 1t is predicted that a vote
will be reached late this afternoon.
We had a treaty with Turkey before
the World War, which the govern
ment of the Sultan abrogated because
we entered the war against Turkeys
allies, though not against Turkey.
The Sultan was deposed in 1922 and
the new republic offers to make new
treaty, parallel with what she has al
ready made with 81 other nations, in
Guiding Great Britain, France, Ger
many, Spain, Italy. Japan and her ira
ditional enemy, Greece. This new
treaty was executed at Lausanne Au-
gust 6, 1923, and signed by President
Coolidge, subject to ratification by the
| advice and consent of the Senate.
More than three years have elapsed
owing to strong opposition. but ratlh-
cation or rejection is now to be de-
termined.
Following the victory of the World
War, the allies imposed extremely Sc
we're terms on Turkey. in the 1920
treaty of Sevres, which, although Tur-
key had been signally defeated, she
refused to ratify. BY the Sevres
treaty she lost wide territory, includ-
ing Smyrna, which was assigned to
Greece. That country was backed by
the allies. particularly Great Britain
and France, and felt itself strong
enough not only to hold the city of
Smyrna, but to invade surrounding
territory in Anatolia in 1922. The
Turks rallied spirit of nationalism
and drove back the Greek invaders,
following with a massacre in Smyrna.
On reliable eyewitness it is now stated
that when the Greeks first landed
in Smyrna they killed about 500
Turks; when the Turks triumphed
they killed 500 Greeks in Smyrna.
That Turkish victory put new face
on the Turkish status and resulted in
a conference at Lausanne between the
allies and Turkey. in which the United
States had no official part. but sat In
as observer" Immediately following
the conclusion of the treaty of Lau-
sanne with the allies. July "a, 1923, n
similar treaty was offered to the
United States-and signed by our En-
ecutive August s. Our treaty was the
outcome, not only of the allies nego-
tiations. but of official conversations"
covering several months, between the
Turkish delegate and our Minister to
Switzerland, who was acting under
instructions from the State Depart
ment. The other negotiators and cob
servers" at the Lausanne conference
were our Ambassador to Italy, Rich
ard Washburn Child, and Rear Ad
miral Bristol We had had no part
III the Sevres treaty. refused by Tur-
key. a
Under the terms of the now pend
ing treaty we lose the old 'capitula-
TONS" including eXtraterritoriality
and the exemption of our citizens in
Turkey from taxation. but become
assured of all the rights and privi-
leges of Turkish nationals, with the
same rate of taxation. The Turkish
Republic has adopted European codes
of law and engaged European legal
advisers. In matters of marriage and
divorce, Americans retain the juris-
diction of American courts located
outside of Turkey. All commercial
relations are based upon the most
favored nation" clause. but these
commercial clauses remain in force
only five years.
We had never held n treaty spe-
CLINSLlly kiNIlS us any Cdplluld-
tions," beyond the clause granting us
whatever rights the most favored
nation" held under its treaty. hence
when the allies made their new
treaties surrendering their rights. that
automatically carried our loss of the
same. There have been no serious
atrocities" since the republic was
formed.
Senator King. a Mormon, is con
cerned over the dangers To Prot
estant missions aud schools in Turkey
upder the pending treaty. but, with
out exception. all the missionaries
and teachers In Turkey are urging
the ratification. In America. Bishop
Manning of the Protestant Episcopal
Church induced about 100 Episcopal
bishops u year ago TO sign n protest
against the ratification, but since
then at least five of the bishops have
withdrawn their signatures. These
include Bishop Brent. who writes
from London July ., 1926. saying:
'In view of the fact that a petition
n