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perity : his investments in real estate, for exam])le, were 
also the talk of tiie town. 
Enver wished to discuss the Capitulations. He practically 
said that the Cabinet had decided on the abrogation, and 
he wished to know the altitude of the United States. He 
added that certainly a country which had fought for its 
independence, as we had, would sympathise with Turkey's 
attempt to shake off these shackles. We had helped Japan 
to^free herself from similar burdens ; wouldn't we now help 
Turkey ? Turkey was as civilised as Japan ? 
I answered that I thought that the I'nited States might 
consent to abandon the Capitulations in so far as they were 
economic. It was my opinion that Turkey should control 
her customs duties and be permitted to levy the same taxes 
on foreigners as on 
her own citizens. 
So long as the 
Turkish courts and 
Turkish prisons 
maintained their 
present standards, 
however, we could 
never agree to 
give up the 
judicial Capitu- 
lations. Turkey 
should reform 
these judicial 
abuses ; after they 
had established 
European ideas in 
the administration 
of justice, then the 
matter could be 
discussed. Enver 
then said that 
Turkey would be 
willing to have 
mixed tribunals 
and to have the 
United States 
designate some of 
the judges I 
suggested t^at, 
inasmuch as 
American judges 
did not know the 
Turkish language 
or Turkish law, 
his scheme involved great practical difficulties. I also told 
him that the American schools and colleges were very dear 
to Americans, and that we would never consent to subjecting 
them to Turkish jurisdiction. 
Despite our protests, the Cabinet issued its notification to 
all the Powers that the Capitulations would be abrogated on 
October ist. England's position was about the same as 
ours ; they would consent to the modification of the economic 
restrictions, but not the others. Wangenheim was greatly 
disturbed ; I think that his Foreign O hce reprimanded him 
for letting the ■abrogation take place, as he blandly asked me 
to announce that I was the responsible person ! As October ist 
approached, the foreigners in Turkey were in a high state of 
apprehension. The Dardanelles had been closed, shutting 
them off from Europe ; and now they were to be left at the 
mercy of Turkish courts and Turkish prison's. Inasmuch as ' 
it was the habit in Turkish prisons to herd the innocent and 
the guilty, and to place in the same room with murderers, 
people charged — not convicted — of minor offences, and to 
bastinado recalcitrant witnesses, their fears may well be 
imagined. The educational institutions were also appre- 
hensive, and in their interest I appealed to Enver. He assured 
me that the Turks had no hostile intention toward Americans. 
I replied that he must show in unmistakable fashion that 
Americans would not be harmed. 
"All right," he answered. " What would you suggest ? " 
"Why not ostentatiously visit Robert College on October 
1st, the day the Capitulations are abrogated ? " I said. 
The idea was rather a unique one. In all the history of 
this institution an important Turkish official had never 
entered its doors. I knew enough of the Turkish character 
to understand that an open, ceremonious visit by Enver 
would cause a public sensation. News of it would reach the 
farthest limits of the Turkish Empire ; the Turks would 
interpret it as meaning that one of the two most powerful 
men in Turkey had taken this and other American 
institutions under his patronage. Such a visit would 
exercise a more protecting influence over American colleges 
^ schools in Turkey than an army corps. I was 
and 
therefore greatly pleased when Enver promptly ado|ited 
my suggestion. 
On the day that the Capitulations were abrogated, Enver 
appeared at the American Embassy ; he had two motor 
cars, one for himself and me, the other for his adjutants, all 
dressed in full uniform. I purposely made the proceeding 
as spectacular as possible, as naturally I wished it to have 
the widest publicity. On the ride up to the college I told 
Enver all about these American institutions and what they 
were doing for Turkey. He really knew very little about 
them ; like most Turks, he half-suspected that they con- 
cealed a pojitical purpose. 
"We Americans are not looking for material advantages in 
Turkey." I said ; " we merely demand that you treat kindly 
our children, these 
colleges, for which 
all the people in 
the United States 
have the warmest 
affection." 
I 'told him that 
Mr. Cleveland H. 
Dodge, President 
of the Trustees of 
Robert College, 
and Mr. Charles R. 
Crane,- President of 
the Trustees of the 
Women's College, 
were intimate 
friends of Presi- 
(ient Wilson. 
"These," I added, 
" represent what is 
best in America 
and the fine altru- 
istic spirit which 
in our country ac- 
cumulates wealth 
and then uses it to 
found colleges and 
schools. In estab- 
hshing these insti- 
tutions in Turkey 
they are trying 
not to convert 
your people to 
Christianity, but 
to help train them 
in the sciences and arts, and so prepare to make them better 
citizens. . Americans feel that the Bible lands have given them 
their rehgion, and they wish to repay with the best thing 
America has — its education.'"' ^ 
Enver was immensely impressed, especially at my state- 
ment that the institutions had not converted— or attempted 
to convert — a single Mohammedan to Christianity. He 
went through all the buildings and expressed his enthusiasm 
at everything he saw, and he even suggested that he would 
like to send his brother there. He took tea with Mrs. Gates, 
wife of President Gates, discussed most intelligently the 
courses, and asked us if we could not introduce the study 
of agriculture. The teachers he met seemed to be a great 
revelation. 
"I expected to find these missionaries as they are pictured 
in the Berlin newspapers," he said, "with long hair and hang- 
ing jaws, and hands clasped constantly in a prayerful attitude. 
But here is Dr. Gates, talking Turkish like a native and acting 
hke a man of the world. I am more than pleased, and thank 
you for bringing me." 
We all saw Enver that afternoon in his most delightful 
aspect. My idea that this visit in itself would protect the 
colleges from disturbance proved to have been a happy one. 
The Turkish Empire has been a tumultuous place in the 
last four years, but the American Colleges have had no diffi- 
culties, either with the Turkish Government or with the 
Turkish populace. 
This visit was only an agreeable interlude in. events of the 
most exciting character. Enver, amiable as he could be 
on occasion, had deliberately determined to put Turkey in 
the war on Germany's side. Germany had now reached the 
point where she no longer concealed her intentions. Once 
before, when I had interfered in the interest of peace, Wan- 
genheim had encouraged my action. Hearing that I was 
still attempting to restrain the Turkish authorities, he became 
angry. "I thought that you were a neutral?" he now 
exclaimed. 
"I thought that you iwere — in Turkey," I answered. 
Toward the end of October, Wangenheim was leaving 
A Group of Americans in Constantinople 
Reading from left to right : Mr. Hear); lU jricnthiu, Dr. Mary Mills Patrick, President of Constantinople 
College, Prof. Isabelle Dodd, ot tiie same institution, Mrs. Morgenthau, and at the extreme right, Dr Gates, 
President of Robert College. 
