"The Murderous Tyranny of the Turks"Toynbee, Arnold
History
"The Murderous Tyranny of the Turks"
Toynbee, Arnold
Eastern question; Turkey -- Politics and government
These crimes, and the phases of Ottoman History which lead up to them,
demonstrate, in the language of the Allies’ Note, that “_the Ottoman
Empire has proved itself radically alien to Western Civilisation_.” Where
Ottoman rule has spread, civilisation has perished. While Ottoman rule
has lasted, civilisation has remained in abeyance. It has only sprung
up again when the oppressed peoples, at the cost of their own blood and
by the aid of civilised nations more fortunate than themselves, have
succeeded in throwing off the Turkish yoke; and these struggles have
been so much regained for liberty and progress in the world, because the
infliction of Turkish rule upon any other people has been an incalculable
loss.
To this long history of horror the Allies are determined to put an end.
They will “_liberate the peoples who now lie beneath this murderous
tyranny_.” But they proclaim no tyrannous intention against the Turks
themselves. In another clause of their note, they put it on record that
“_it has never been their intention to seek the extermination or the
political extinction of the Germanic peoples_.” The declaration holds
good, by implication, for the Magyar, Bulgar, and Turkish peoples who are
the Germanic peoples’ allies. There are regions in Asia Minor where the
Turk is undisputed occupant of the land. The Allies have no intention of
“deporting” or exterminating the Turk from these regions, as the Turk has
deported the Armenians from the regions that are theirs. The Turk, like
the German, Magyar and Bulgar, will remain where he belongs. Out of the
broad territory over which he at present domineers, he will be allowed
to keep his just pound of flesh, but woe to him hereafter if he sheds one
drop of Christian blood....
THE REORGANISATION OF EUROPE.
This settlement of Turkey is a logical element in the Allies’ general
aim in the War:—“_The reorganisation of Europe, guaranteed by a stable
settlement, based alike upon the principle of nationalities, on the right
which all peoples, whether small or great, have to the enjoyment of
full security and free economic development, and also upon territorial
agreements and international arrangements so framed as to guarantee land
and sea frontiers against unjust attacks._”
This aim is no invention of yesterday; it has been the aspiration of all
lovers of liberty for a century past.
“_Let the Turks_,” said Mr. Gladstone in a famous speech, “_now carry
away their abuses in the only possible manner, namely, by carrying
away themselves. Their Zaptiehs and their Mudirs, their Bimbashis and
their Yuzbashis, their Kaimakams and their Pashas, one and all, bag and
baggage, shall I hope clear out from the province they have desolated and
profaned._”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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