p. 8 | The Perplexing Turkish Problem

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1914

The Perplexing Turkish Problem

IN the past, Great Britain has been the stay and staff of the Turkish Empire. When other powers would willingly have driven her out of Europe and possessed themselves of her territory, England has upheld her. Of late German influences have seemed to predominate at the Turkish court, and we read of hundreds of German officers who have recently been sent to Turkey as instructors in the army of that country. For several days Turkey has been mobilizing her forces, and grave fears have existed on the part of the allied powers that it was the purpose of the Constantinople government to enter the European conflict on the side of Austria and Germany, and that she would seek to rouse a holy war on the part of the Mohammedan world. Strong diplomatic influences have been brought to bear upon the Porte by the ambassadors of all the powers.

August 31 the governments of the Triple Entente—Great Britain, France, and Russia—gave formal assurances through their representatives to the Turkish government that if she would remain neutral through the present conflict, and not render help to the Dual Alliance, the allied powers would guarantee Turkish integrity. And it is also reported that Turkey was faithfully warned that for her to enter the struggle at the present time against the interests of the Triple Entente, would be for her to sign her own death warrant so far as her existence in Europe is concerned. The near future promises interesting developments relative to this situation.