GERMAN INTRIGUES IN TURKEY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2292, 28 October 1914, Page 6

GERMAN INTRIGUES IN TURKEY

UNEASINESS OF UNITED STATES GOA r ERNMENT. AVill Germany, in pursuance of her self-assumed mission of imposing German culture upon tho world, compel tho United States to engage in a bloody war in the Philippines? That fear, whicli none of tho American newspapers yet discuss, is, according to tho Washington correspondent of the London "Morning Post," in tho minds of certain officials of the AVashington Government. Tho German Embassy has made public tho following message alleged to havo been received from Berlin by wireless-,to Sayville Station: "Former Minister Burns's speech against Grey's policy causes deep impression. Hints fatal consequences from Mohammedan subjects. Nows from Constantinople foreshadows active participation of Turkey against Russia and England." As no American paper has published or made'even tho slightest allusion to Mr. Burns's speech against Sir Edward Grey's policy, and neither diplomats nor- private individuals in touch with English affairs havo hoard anything about this speech, tho German communique is- somewhat mystifying, but tho Germany Embassy has no explanation or elucidation to offer, and simply contents itself with assorting that tho text is an accurate translation of tho, dispatch received from Berlin.

That. Germany in her desperation is trying to draw Turkey to her support is no surprise to diplomats here. It has been known in Washington for some days that Germany is making franticefforts in Constantinople, and, of course, the same information is in possession- of the British, French, and Russian Foreign Offices. AVhat perhaps is .not so generally, .known is that a threat has been openly made by Turkish officials of tho highest standing that if Turkey goes to war "forced to defend herself" is tho phra-so Used—she will raise the green banner <nd proach a jehad, so as tohring to her world, and arouse- them to fury against the Christians wherever found, in Indiaand Egypt and the Philippines. This, of course, has teen communicated to the German Emperor, who no doubt is as ready to precipitate religious war as ho was to violate Belgium's neutrality. But his hopes may bo as Vain as his diplomacy has proved stupid, if, through German machinations, the Mohammedan population of . the 'world be instigated to ris-3 against tho Christians, it means almost as much to tho United States as it does to Britain, Although the significance of this latest manifestation is not yet appreciated in the United States, it will bo as 6oon as this dispatch is read. There aro several hundred thousand Mohammedans in the Philippines, Moros, as they are called; stout and cruel fighting men, who were in constant rebellion against the Spaniards when they owiied the islands,'and gave tho United States considerable trouble after they took possession. These Mohammedans are to bo urged by the German Emperor's emissaries to slay and torture a handful of American troops, who are the only bulwark against the non-Mohammedan. natives and the white men and their women and children in Mindanao, the chief stronghold of the Moros, and other islands, whore they constitute the bulk of the population. It is part of American secret diplomatic history that when the Philippines finst came to tho Unitefl States the Mohaimedan question was so serious that President M'Kinley sent a confidential agent to the British Government to induce it to use its influenco with the leaders of Mohamedism in Turkey and India to quiet the apprehensions of their co-religioniste in the Philippines, and induco them' to accept American rule. The British Government showed its friendliness and sympathy with American aspirations by immediately putting the whole of its powerful _ machinery in operation, and also offering certain suggestions in doaling with the Moros derived from its long experience in governing Mohammedan peoples, which the United States accepted. The result was a modus vivendi which has been observed and has kept the Moros at peace. If now they should be incited to make war on their Christion governors the United States might find itself faced with a long and costly campaign to supress rebellion.'