Generated for (University of
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on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl.
Jabotinsky - 1917 - Turkey and the War
Turkey and the war, by Vladimir Jabotinsky.
Jabotinsky, Vladimir, 1880-1940. London : T. F. Unwin, Ltd. , [1917]
http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n
Public Domain
http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
This work is in the Public Domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users are free to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part or in whole. It is possible that current copyright holders, heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may need to be obtained independently of anything we can address.
? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? " The present War undoubtedly
was largely a war for the control
of Asia Minor. " -- Nineteenth
Century, June, 1916.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND
THE WAR BY
VLADIMIR JABOTINSKY
(War Correspondent of the " Russkia Vedomosti " of Moscow).
LONDON
T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD
ADELPHI TERRACE
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? First published in igiy
[All rights reserved']
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? D
It is my pleasant duty gratefully to ac-
knowledge that -- so far as the linguistic
form of this essay is concerned -- the follow-
ing pages were written with the friendly
and constant collaboration of Miss Violet
Ross- Johnson.
v. J.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
http://archive. org/details/turkeywarOOjabo
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? CONTENTS
PART I : THE AIM OF THIS WAR
PAGE
I. AIMS AND CAUSES 13
II. THE ALLEGED AIMS OF THE
WAR :
(a) FREEDOM OF SMALL
NATIONALITIES . . 25
(b) ALSACE-LORRAINE . . 28
(c) MILITARISM 35
III. ASIATIC TURKEY . . -49
IV. PARTITION AND WAR . . 65
PART II: THE INNER STATE OF
TURKEY
V. AFTER SIX YEARS OF CON-
STITUTION . . . 77
vii
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? CONTENTS
PAGE
VI. THE YOUNG TURKS . . . 85
VII. THE TURKISH MINORITY IN
TURKEY . . ' . . 105
VIII. ILLUSIONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS 121
ix. "est delenda" . . . 135
PART III : CONTROVERSIAL POINTS
OF THE PARTITION SCHEME
X. A LIST OF CLAIMS . . . 149
XI. THE STRAITS . . . . 165
XII. SYRIA AND PALESTINE . . 187
XIII. THE ARABS . . . . 213
XIV. THE GERMAN CLAIM . . 233
PART IV : SOME MILITARY ASPECTS
XV. THE MAIN FRONT . ? n 249
viii
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? PART I-- THE AIM OF THIS WAR
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I-- AIMS AND CAUSES
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I
Aims and Causes
This little book is an attempt to define
the real aims of the present war. That
is to say, we presume that there may be a
difference between what people, even people
in leading positions, suppose to be the aim
of the war, and what it really is. The
current formulas on this subject circulated
in this country may prove, on more atten-
tive analysis, to reflect popular feelings
rather than immanent realities of the
universal situation. Mr. Asquith's well-
known statement, twice repeated in 1914
and 1916, is perhaps one instance. Noble
13
?
Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? CONTENTS
PAGE
VI. THE YOUNG TURKS . . . 85
VII. THE TURKISH MINORITY IN
TURKEY . . ' . . 105
VIII. ILLUSIONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS 121
ix. "est delenda" . . . 135
PART III : CONTROVERSIAL POINTS
OF THE PARTITION SCHEME
X. A LIST OF CLAIMS . . . 149
XI. THE STRAITS . . . . 165
XII. SYRIA AND PALESTINE . . 187
XIII. THE ARABS . . . . 213
XIV. THE GERMAN CLAIM . . 233
PART IV : SOME MILITARY ASPECTS
XV. THE MAIN FRONT . ? n 249
viii
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? PART I-- THE AIM OF THIS WAR
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I-- AIMS AND CAUSES
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I
Aims and Causes
This little book is an attempt to define
the real aims of the present war. That
is to say, we presume that there may be a
difference between what people, even people
in leading positions, suppose to be the aim
of the war, and what it really is. The
current formulas on this subject circulated
in this country may prove, on more atten-
tive analysis, to reflect popular feelings
rather than immanent realities of the
universal situation. Mr. Asquith's well-
known statement, twice repeated in 1914
and 1916, is perhaps one instance. Noble
13
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
in spirit and energetic in form though it
be, it cannot pretend to give a full enumera-
tion of all the problems involved in the
actual conflict. Even more : some points
upon which it dwelt are, perhaps, not so
important as other points which it did
not mention.
To be sure, popular feeling plays a great
role in every war. The masses of a belli-
gerent country must have before them a
clear goal for which they think it worth
while to fight ; and this constitutes, as
a German would say, the " subjective "
aim of the war. But besides this, perhaps
above this, there is the " objective " aim.
It is, in some way, independent of the
people's mood or inclination. It is in-
herent in the situation, produced and
imposed by the force of things.
14
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? AIMS AND CAUSES
What is the way to find out these
" objective " aims in the intricacies of the
present conflict ? First of all, by defining
its causes. That is to say, from among
the different things which are generally
quoted as " causes of the war " we must
separate those which made the war in-
evitable. Analysing the different factors,
we shall easily see that many of them
would not have been able by themselves
to provoke so enormous a conflagration ;
they may have added fuel, but did not
make the fire ; whilst a few of them, or
perhaps just one of them, would inevitably
have produced the conflict even if the
others had not existed. The removal of
these essential roots of the struggle is the
natural immanent aim of the war. With-
out this, the settlement would not be
15
i
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
effective even if the secondary causes were
removed, and a new and perhaps more
terrible war must follow.
In dealing with this analysis we must
ignore every sentimental consideration.
Some battlecries which excite our greatest
sympathies may prove, on test, to be of
secondary importance ; in that case we
shall have to accept the truth and to draw
from it the necessary solutions, however
unpalatable they may be. Again, what
our inquiry ascertains to be the " real
aim " may not in itself inspire us with
enthusiasm : but we must submit to its
imperative necessity and carry it through
To make our meaning still clearer lei
us have recourse to an old-fashioned bul
still useful device : to the parable. Imagine
an old town in which an epidemic disease
16
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? AIMS AND CAUSES
suddenly breaks out. People are naturally
mxious to discover the source of the scourge
md to remove it. Some think that the
:ause lies in the absence of vegetation ;
others say that the streets of the town
ire too narrow and the houses too dark,
others again insist on the necessity of
mproving the underground drainage,
rhus a complete scheme of reconstruction
3f the old town is formed, which attracts
sympathies and excites enthusiasms. It
works its own way further : Mr. Somebody
s suddenly reminded of his own old feud
with his neighbour, a field-boundary dis-
pute unjustly decided by the court, and
ie goes around saying that there can be
10 health where there is no justice, and
that a radical struggle against the disease
mplies a reform of the tribunals -- and
17 B
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
the revision of some old quarrels. But
the Doctor knows that the real cause of
the epidemic is the bad quality of the
potable water, because the source from
which it comes is infected ; and to dis-
infect it the picturesque beauty of the
river-margin must be deformed by a plain
but hygienic embankment. That is the
difficulty, because many of his fellow-
citizens love the romantic river-side in
its wildness. So the Doctor says : " Your
scheme is very good. I grant you, green
spaces are necessary : wide streets and
bright houses are healthy : a more perfect
drainage is of the greatest importance. I
even agree with the desirability of a
reform of the courts. Try it all if you
can. I shall be glad if you succeed. But
don't forget that even if you succeed in
18
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? AIMS AND CAUSES
all this you don't destroy the root of our
plague, and it will persist. If you want
to get rid of it you must embank the river.
That is the main thing -- that is the thing
to be done. I know you don't like it ;
but I can't count with your nice feel-
ings in this question. Drop the whole
scheme if necessary, but remember the
river. "
The popular list of the " aims of the
war " includes the freedom of small nation-
alities, a fair solution of the Alsace problem,
and what people call the destruction of
Prussian militarism. We intentionally ab-
stain from mentioning such axioms as the
restoration of Belgium : it is a holy and
imperative duty of the Allies, but the
redressing of a consequence of the war
cannot be considered as one of those aims
19
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
which determine or underlie human con-
flagrations. Nor will we indulge in such
beautiful ideals as the " prohibition " of
wars and the creation of a compulsory
International Tribunal -- we are dealing
with plain realities, not with ideals. On
the other hand, the three points mentioned
just above are certainly within the bounds
of practical politics. Everybody to whom
freedom is not merely an empty word
must fully recognise that their realisation
would be a blessing for humanity ; and
he will encourage the Allies to insist, cost
what might, upon this noble platform.
Its fulfilment, we hope, will be the conse-
quence of the war ; but we are now
concerned with the causes. Let it there-
fore be said at once, without further pre-
amble, that the present war owes its birth
20
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? AIMS AND CAUSES
directly and beyond doubt to the problem
of the Near and Middle East.
We strongly reject every suspicion that
we are underrating the great value oi
such principles as protection of the smaller
nations, the re-annexation of Alsace-Lor-
raine, and the taming of the shrew whose
name is German Junkerdom. It would
indeed be a heavy disappointment, perhaps
a moral disaster for the civilised world if
these goals could not be attained in con-
nection with this war. But the root of
the present plague is in Asia Minor, and
the first and last aim of the war is the
solution of the Eastern question.
In the following chapters we shall try
to recall the facts and arguments which
led us to this conclusion.
21
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2.
Jabotinsky, Vladimir, 1880-1940. London : T. F. Unwin, Ltd. , [1917]
http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n
Public Domain
http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
This work is in the Public Domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users are free to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part or in whole. It is possible that current copyright holders, heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may need to be obtained independently of anything we can address.
? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? " The present War undoubtedly
was largely a war for the control
of Asia Minor. " -- Nineteenth
Century, June, 1916.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND
THE WAR BY
VLADIMIR JABOTINSKY
(War Correspondent of the " Russkia Vedomosti " of Moscow).
LONDON
T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD
ADELPHI TERRACE
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? First published in igiy
[All rights reserved']
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? D
It is my pleasant duty gratefully to ac-
knowledge that -- so far as the linguistic
form of this essay is concerned -- the follow-
ing pages were written with the friendly
and constant collaboration of Miss Violet
Ross- Johnson.
v. J.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2013
http://archive. org/details/turkeywarOOjabo
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? CONTENTS
PART I : THE AIM OF THIS WAR
PAGE
I. AIMS AND CAUSES 13
II. THE ALLEGED AIMS OF THE
WAR :
(a) FREEDOM OF SMALL
NATIONALITIES . . 25
(b) ALSACE-LORRAINE . . 28
(c) MILITARISM 35
III. ASIATIC TURKEY . . -49
IV. PARTITION AND WAR . . 65
PART II: THE INNER STATE OF
TURKEY
V. AFTER SIX YEARS OF CON-
STITUTION . . . 77
vii
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? CONTENTS
PAGE
VI. THE YOUNG TURKS . . . 85
VII. THE TURKISH MINORITY IN
TURKEY . . ' . . 105
VIII. ILLUSIONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS 121
ix. "est delenda" . . . 135
PART III : CONTROVERSIAL POINTS
OF THE PARTITION SCHEME
X. A LIST OF CLAIMS . . . 149
XI. THE STRAITS . . . . 165
XII. SYRIA AND PALESTINE . . 187
XIII. THE ARABS . . . . 213
XIV. THE GERMAN CLAIM . . 233
PART IV : SOME MILITARY ASPECTS
XV. THE MAIN FRONT . ? n 249
viii
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? PART I-- THE AIM OF THIS WAR
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I-- AIMS AND CAUSES
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I
Aims and Causes
This little book is an attempt to define
the real aims of the present war. That
is to say, we presume that there may be a
difference between what people, even people
in leading positions, suppose to be the aim
of the war, and what it really is. The
current formulas on this subject circulated
in this country may prove, on more atten-
tive analysis, to reflect popular feelings
rather than immanent realities of the
universal situation. Mr. Asquith's well-
known statement, twice repeated in 1914
and 1916, is perhaps one instance. Noble
13
?
Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? CONTENTS
PAGE
VI. THE YOUNG TURKS . . . 85
VII. THE TURKISH MINORITY IN
TURKEY . . ' . . 105
VIII. ILLUSIONS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS 121
ix. "est delenda" . . . 135
PART III : CONTROVERSIAL POINTS
OF THE PARTITION SCHEME
X. A LIST OF CLAIMS . . . 149
XI. THE STRAITS . . . . 165
XII. SYRIA AND PALESTINE . . 187
XIII. THE ARABS . . . . 213
XIV. THE GERMAN CLAIM . . 233
PART IV : SOME MILITARY ASPECTS
XV. THE MAIN FRONT . ? n 249
viii
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? PART I-- THE AIM OF THIS WAR
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I-- AIMS AND CAUSES
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? I
Aims and Causes
This little book is an attempt to define
the real aims of the present war. That
is to say, we presume that there may be a
difference between what people, even people
in leading positions, suppose to be the aim
of the war, and what it really is. The
current formulas on this subject circulated
in this country may prove, on more atten-
tive analysis, to reflect popular feelings
rather than immanent realities of the
universal situation. Mr. Asquith's well-
known statement, twice repeated in 1914
and 1916, is perhaps one instance. Noble
13
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-06-10 07:16 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/uc2. ark:/13960/t9f503c3n Public Domain / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd
? TURKEY AND THE WAR
in spirit and energetic in form though it
be, it cannot pretend to give a full enumera-
tion of all the problems involved in the
actual conflict. Even more : some points
upon which it dwelt are, perhaps, not so
important as other points which it did
not mention.
To be sure, popular feeling plays a great
role in every war. The masses of a belli-
gerent country must have before them a
clear goal for which they think it worth
while to fight ; and this constitutes, as
a German would say, the " subjective "
aim of the war. But besides this, perhaps
above this, there is the " objective " aim.
It is, in some way, independent of the
people's mood or inclination. It is in-
herent in the situation, produced and
imposed by the force of things.
14
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? AIMS AND CAUSES
What is the way to find out these
" objective " aims in the intricacies of the
present conflict ? First of all, by defining
its causes. That is to say, from among
the different things which are generally
quoted as " causes of the war " we must
separate those which made the war in-
evitable. Analysing the different factors,
we shall easily see that many of them
would not have been able by themselves
to provoke so enormous a conflagration ;
they may have added fuel, but did not
make the fire ; whilst a few of them, or
perhaps just one of them, would inevitably
have produced the conflict even if the
others had not existed. The removal of
these essential roots of the struggle is the
natural immanent aim of the war. With-
out this, the settlement would not be
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? TURKEY AND THE WAR
effective even if the secondary causes were
removed, and a new and perhaps more
terrible war must follow.
In dealing with this analysis we must
ignore every sentimental consideration.
Some battlecries which excite our greatest
sympathies may prove, on test, to be of
secondary importance ; in that case we
shall have to accept the truth and to draw
from it the necessary solutions, however
unpalatable they may be. Again, what
our inquiry ascertains to be the " real
aim " may not in itself inspire us with
enthusiasm : but we must submit to its
imperative necessity and carry it through
To make our meaning still clearer lei
us have recourse to an old-fashioned bul
still useful device : to the parable. Imagine
an old town in which an epidemic disease
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? AIMS AND CAUSES
suddenly breaks out. People are naturally
mxious to discover the source of the scourge
md to remove it. Some think that the
:ause lies in the absence of vegetation ;
others say that the streets of the town
ire too narrow and the houses too dark,
others again insist on the necessity of
mproving the underground drainage,
rhus a complete scheme of reconstruction
3f the old town is formed, which attracts
sympathies and excites enthusiasms. It
works its own way further : Mr. Somebody
s suddenly reminded of his own old feud
with his neighbour, a field-boundary dis-
pute unjustly decided by the court, and
ie goes around saying that there can be
10 health where there is no justice, and
that a radical struggle against the disease
mplies a reform of the tribunals -- and
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? TURKEY AND THE WAR
the revision of some old quarrels. But
the Doctor knows that the real cause of
the epidemic is the bad quality of the
potable water, because the source from
which it comes is infected ; and to dis-
infect it the picturesque beauty of the
river-margin must be deformed by a plain
but hygienic embankment. That is the
difficulty, because many of his fellow-
citizens love the romantic river-side in
its wildness. So the Doctor says : " Your
scheme is very good. I grant you, green
spaces are necessary : wide streets and
bright houses are healthy : a more perfect
drainage is of the greatest importance. I
even agree with the desirability of a
reform of the courts. Try it all if you
can. I shall be glad if you succeed. But
don't forget that even if you succeed in
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? AIMS AND CAUSES
all this you don't destroy the root of our
plague, and it will persist. If you want
to get rid of it you must embank the river.
That is the main thing -- that is the thing
to be done. I know you don't like it ;
but I can't count with your nice feel-
ings in this question. Drop the whole
scheme if necessary, but remember the
river. "
The popular list of the " aims of the
war " includes the freedom of small nation-
alities, a fair solution of the Alsace problem,
and what people call the destruction of
Prussian militarism. We intentionally ab-
stain from mentioning such axioms as the
restoration of Belgium : it is a holy and
imperative duty of the Allies, but the
redressing of a consequence of the war
cannot be considered as one of those aims
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? TURKEY AND THE WAR
which determine or underlie human con-
flagrations. Nor will we indulge in such
beautiful ideals as the " prohibition " of
wars and the creation of a compulsory
International Tribunal -- we are dealing
with plain realities, not with ideals. On
the other hand, the three points mentioned
just above are certainly within the bounds
of practical politics. Everybody to whom
freedom is not merely an empty word
must fully recognise that their realisation
would be a blessing for humanity ; and
he will encourage the Allies to insist, cost
what might, upon this noble platform.
Its fulfilment, we hope, will be the conse-
quence of the war ; but we are now
concerned with the causes. Let it there-
fore be said at once, without further pre-
amble, that the present war owes its birth
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? AIMS AND CAUSES
directly and beyond doubt to the problem
of the Near and Middle East.
We strongly reject every suspicion that
we are underrating the great value oi
such principles as protection of the smaller
nations, the re-annexation of Alsace-Lor-
raine, and the taming of the shrew whose
name is German Junkerdom. It would
indeed be a heavy disappointment, perhaps
a moral disaster for the civilised world if
these goals could not be attained in con-
nection with this war. But the root of
the present plague is in Asia Minor, and
the first and last aim of the war is the
solution of the Eastern question.
In the following chapters we shall try
to recall the facts and arguments which
led us to this conclusion.
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