MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1914, Page 7

MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER

FOREIGN OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENT. Official.-— At the beginning of the war the British Government gave a definite assurance that if Turkey remained neutral her independence and integrity would be respected during the war and in the terms of peace. In this France | and' Russia concurred. The British | Government have since then endavoured, [ with the greatest patience and forI bearance, to preserve friendly relations, in spite of increasing breaches of neutrality on the part of the Turkish Government at Constantinople and ( in the case if German vessels in the Straits. On 29th October the British Government learnt, with the utmost regret, that Turkish ships of war had, without any declaration of war and without any warning or provocation of any sort, made wanton attacks upon open and undefended towns, on the Black Sea, of a friendly country, thus committing an unprecedented violation of the most ordinary rules of International Law, comity, and usage. i Ever since the Goeben and Breslau i took refuge in Constantinople the attitude of the Turkish Government towards Britain has caused surprise and uneasiness. Promises made by the Turkish Government to send away the German officers and crews of the Goeben and Breslau were never fulfilled. It was ; well known that the Turkish Minister of War was decidedly pro-German, but it was confidently hoped the aaner counsels Of his colleagues who had experience of the* friendship .which Great Britain has always shown towai-ds the Turkish Government would have prevailed and prevented that Government from entering upon a very risky policy by taking part in the 1 conflict on the side of Germany. ' v Since the war began German officers in large numbers have invaded Constantinople and usurped the authority of the Government, and have been able to coerce the Sultan's Ministers into taking up • a policy of aggression. Britain, France, and Russia watched these proceedings patiently, protesting against many" acts which have constantly been committed contrary to neutrality, and warning the Sultan's Government against the danger they were placing the future of the Ottoman Empire in. Vigorously assisted by th(J* Ambassadors of Germany and Austria, German military elements at Constantinople have been persistently doing their utmost to force Turkey into war, both by their activities in the service of the Turks and by lavish bribes. The Minister of War, with his German advisers, has latterly prepared an armed force for attack upon Egypt. Mosul and Damascus Army Corps have since mobilisation been in Constantinople, sending .troops south preparatory to an invasion' of Egypt and the Suez Canal from Akaba and Gaza. A large body of Bedouin Arabs has been called out and armed tc assist, this venture, and some of these have crossed the Sinai frontier. Transport has been coliected and^ roads prepared up to the frontier of "Egypt. Mines have been despatched to be laid in the Gulf of Akaba. The notorious sheikh, Am Shawish, has published and disseminated through Syria, and probably India, an inflammatory document^ urging Mohammedans to fight against Britain. Dr. Pmeffer is busily occupied in Syria, trying to incite the people to take part in this conflict. This aggressive action wat certain to

bo the result of the activity of numerous German officers employed in the Turkish army, acting under orders of the German Government, who thus have sue* ceeded in forcing the hands of the advisers of the Sultan. German intrigue cannot influence the loyalty to Britain of the seventy millions of Mohammedans in India, and the feeling of the Mohammedan inhabitants in Egypt. They must look with detestation on the misguided action, under foreign infill encGj at Constantinople, which will inevitably lead to the disintegration of the Turkish Empire, Sfcd which showß such forgetfulness of the many occasions on which Great Britain has shown friendship to Turkey. They must feel bitterly the degeneration of their CO' religionists who can thus be dominated against their will by German influences. The Turkish Government summarily on Friday shut off telegraphic communication with tile British Embassy at Constantinople. This is no doubt the prelude to further acte of aggression on their part. The British Government must take whatever action is required to protect British interests, British territory, and Eygpt; from attacks made and threatened* •