Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-10
Lausanne Pact Scored.
Reservations Before Ratification
BY L. $. Are Urged.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
AS constant reader of The Star, l
have learned to appreciate the valu-
able and interesting contributions of
your distinguished correspondent,
Paul V. Collins. viii you permit me,
in the interest of fairness. to take
issue with him on few points in his
article on the Lausanne treaty in
your issue of January 6? l have
spent my entire life in the Near East,
and can speak with first hand knowl-
edge. Among other things, Mr.. Collins
says:
'On reliable witnesses 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"
Now, this is an act of retribution
which must appeal strongly to all
fair-minded men. If the Greeks had
killed sol Turks, the latter would have
dispatched sol Greeks. But they
didnt-they only killed 500
But isn't this a rather trivial
method of disposing of one of the most
fearful tragedies in history? ] ar
rived in Smyrna Immediately after
the Greek landing and found perfect
order reigning. From careful investi
cation i substantiated that 76 Turks
D6tH ny IEe0h Sol
diers and partly by the mob.
The ringleaders were Immediately
punished by the Greek authorities.
Three, including a Greek soldier, were
executed. | was present and saw the
execution. Seventy-four sentences in
all were passed and carried out.
The burning of Smyrna by the Turk
ish army of Mustapha Renal was one
of the most frightful tragedies in the
history of the world. The islands of
the Mediterranean were filled with
widows and orphans and with chill
dren and babies suffering with gun
and stab wounds.
The Near East Relief and other sim
liar organizations have spent more
than $1,000. 900 for relief of widows
and orphans. victims of Moslem at.
taCks on Christian populations. These
figures can be verified.
Now as to the missionaries" and
business interests that favor the La.u-
same treaty. There are no longer
any missionaries in Turkey. The
schools over there are running with
the distinct understanding that they
must not attempt to convert MOham-
medans. [. have nothing to say
against missionaries - those great,
splendid, brave men and women who
give their lives, sacrifice them even,
in the service of the Master. But the
worthy gentlemen now operating in
Turkey are pedagogues. 1t is good
work, of course, but it must be clearly
understood.
There are many church people, how
ever. who believe that the hauling
down of the Masters standard for the
saving of a few buildings has been a
great blow to missionary work in gen.
eral, and has created a doubt among
MuSsulmanS as to our sincerity as
Christians.
[ will pass over the business inter
ests, as l do net wish to go into
general discussion of the subject here.
But there are many people in America
who believe that there are things
more important than certain amount
of business, which would probably go
on any way with q small and wretched
country.
Nobody is opposed to the treaty,
but the great and glorious United
States stands for something more than
a few buildings and a little business.
The treaty should be passed-with
reservations. All American citizens
should be recompensed by the Turks
for the losses which they have suf
fered and others, too for that matter.
The ArmenianS should be allotted
home and suitable territory and safe
guards taken against further attacks
upon them.
All Christian girls held as slaves
should be given up by the Turks. No
cynical denial on the part of the
Turks should be accepted, but full
facilities should be given to an I'M
biased committee to investigate. A
society founded in England has al
ready been doing effective work to-
ward rescuing large numbers of such
girls, unearthed in the territories that
have passed from Turkish rule.
There are other reservations, but
these are the most important. 1t
should also be remembered that the
Turkish massacres, in which more
than a million people persisted, are OF
comparatively recent date. and that
the Turks with whom we are deal
ing are mostly the same people whose
hands are wet with all this blood.
They should show, some signs of re-
pentance.
And in closing I resent Indignantly.
as an American and a son of the
American Revolution, clubbing Mus
tapha Kemal the George Washing
ton" of Turkey. He is an arch-mur-
derer and his republic a sham,
founded in blood and sustained by the
hanging of more than a thousand of
his compatriots.
GEORGE HORTON