THE NEW TURKEY.

Evening Star, Issue 21284, 13 December 1932, Page 6

THE NEW TURKEY.

Among the startling developments in the world in the last ten years those that have occurred in the customs and habits of the Turkish people are the most revolutionary. In the past tho words the “ unchangeable Fast ” were in constant use. Now they must be discarded so far ns Turkey is concerned. The latest announcement from Angora is that tho word “ Allah ” is altered from Arabic to the Turkish word “ Tanri.”- Thus the Muezzin’s future

call will be “ Tanrl ” instead of the traditional “Allah.” This is a striking revelation of the changes that have occurred in the mentality of the people and thenreadiness to absorb new ideas. Hitherto the words Allah and Islam have been inseparable. When the historic title of Caliph was abolished it was thought that the slow-moving, obstinate, conservative Turk had conceded all that was possible from his fanatical attitude on religious matters, so that the present development is all the more remarkable. When the Great War broke out, and hostilities had fully developed, the intention was expressed, because of the nation’s past atrocities, of driving the Turk—the " sick man ’’—out of Europe, implying that that would be the end of Turkey as a Power of any consequence. It is true that the slice of Europe that it possesses to-day is small. It was shorn of much territory in Asia also in the post-war settlement. Then Greece tried further to humiliate Turkey in a campaign that ended, after some initial successes, in disaster for the Greeks. Since then, with its capital remote in Anatolia, Turkey has been engaged in consolidating its possessions and in building a State according to modern ideas. During the war with Greece, Mustaplm Kemal showed himself to be an able military commander. In the events that have followed he has prayed himself an exceedingly capable administrator and builder. Unlike the Sultans, he has refrained from harassing his neighbours, but has devoted his energies to internal reforms. He resolutely got rid of the retrograde elements in the State, and in the ten years that he has been Dictator he has effected remarkable changes. In the modernisation of Turkey religion has been disestablished, religious tribunals abolished, and religious schools closed. An entirely new system of education, in which religion has no place, has been introduced. Judicial codes, which are a mixture of those in use in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, have been adopted. The public services and all matters relating to trade have been overhauled, the whole machinery of the State being completely refashioned in a spirit of perfervid nationalism. Naturally, the Dictator was not likely to overlook the question of national defence. Strategic railways have been built or extended, the army and navy strengthened, and an air force developed. In the country’s social life astonishing changes have occurred. Turkish women have become completely emancipated, polygamy has been abolished, and the wearing of the fez and veil, the old national headdress, is forbidden by law. Latin characters have taken the place of Arabic in Turkish script. A comprehensive education system is in force. Formerly 95 per cent, of the population was illiterate; now every Turk is compelled to learn to read and write. Mustapha Kemal has cultivated friendly relations with the Powers, major and minor, oven with Greece, and Turkey is now a member of the League of Nations. Literally wo see a nation No longer is Turkey the “ sick man,” detested by all outside for atrocities. The country shows an astonishing degree of convalescence and of reasonableness to the minorities within its borders. All this is due to the influence of Mustapha Kemal. The fact that in the face of the Turk’s traditional fanaticism he should have been so successful in his reforms proves that he has the elements of greatness possessed by few. When his day has ended the problem will be to find a man or men to continue building on the foundations that he has laid.