THE TURKO-GERMAN SPLIT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 268, 1 August 1918, Page 6

THE TURKO-GERMAN SPLIT

ME. WILFORD ON POSSIBILITIES Ol' HEPORTED BKEACH. At the conclusion of his remarks at the conference of the Harbour Board's Association yesterday, the Hon. T. JI. Wilford referred to tho cabled roport that Turkoy had broken relations with Qerinany, Eeutor's Agency, he said, had told us that Turkey had 'cut tho painter' from Germany." ' The result of this news, if true, is at present incalculable." said Mr. Wilford: "tho influence on the German public attitude towards the war will be astonishing. Germany is largely a country of business men. who are not carrying tho strain and burden of this war for national glory only. World power for them moans larger mnrkets. This is their justification for the suffering and sacrifice they are making. Remove this object, and justification of this war to them is cone. How does tho German commoreial man look at tho question? Ho looks for an Ottoman Empire within tho German Vollverin. Turkey is his goal, and ihe excuse for thoir' losses. Asia Minor, including Anatolia, are the prizes be seeks. Turkey - he thinks to-day his best German colony. It is the market he thought tho Paris Conference could not affect. It is one of tho largest and the most promising markets of tho world. It is an immense reservoir of raw materials. Turkey, says Vla'dimar Jabotinsky, is tho ultima spes of the German business man. In Naumann's 'Mittel Eurona'. Turkey is the alternative to overseas expansion, the vital link, tho spring of the clockwork. If you strike it successfully tho whole Eastern Ottoman Empire dream 'collapses, and Egyptian and African dominance crumbles into dust. Turkey is not only ait ally whose collapse would weaken Germany's strength; it is tho reason for her acts and moves, for the Serbian ultimatum, and the declaration of war. The mobs in the streets of Germany may be dazzled by the German troops camping in Belgium, France, or Poland; the leading men of Germany know that Belgium must bo restored after the war. What encourages the Junkers, tho Hohonzorierns, and tho financiers is the Berlin and Bagdad route via Constantinople, and the rich districts of Anatolia. Ihe invasion of Anatolia or the occupation of it under agreement would mean the loss of all that makes the war worth while for Germany. In conclusion, do not forget that the route of this war plague is Asia Minor. Tho 'Nineteenth Century' of 191G said "that the present war was waged for the control of Asia Minor. The Balkans are the ante chambers leading to Asia Minor and farther. Germany has tried to swallow Turkey afl a whole, but we hope if the news is true that Turkey has at last seen through the ruse, 'in conclusion, let me predict that Turkey will never suffer for long the predominance of one foreign Power. This, I think, the Allies realise."