“There is, of course, a very stupid kind of loyalty in such an attitude, but it tempts one to almost despair of ever hoping to fight against its criminal injustice to Turkey.
“It is a heavy responsibility for great men if they give rein to an obstinate and unreasonable prejudice. It is so hard to resist those we respect.”
“What do you really think about the Americans in Turkey? I am so anxious to do my utmost for these poor people, asked my friend.”
“I, who love them, will honestly say I fear that the influence of your people is very dangerous. For one who does good, as I am sure you have done, there are fifty who only make mischief, even undoing much of what you have achieved.”
“The supreme merit of the Nationalist movement comes from the fact that Turks are beginning to be themselves. All must be well in the end if they are content to ‘swallow’ Europe in small doses. Already we have with us that dangerous anomaly the European Turk. The big capitals kill his sincerity and capture his affections by their vices. His mysterious dark eyes (an everyday commonplace in his own country) too often prove ‘false lights’ leading him on to the rocks. It is a test of character to ask the European Turk if he is not ‘longing to get back to Turkey?’ When I put the question to Hussein Raghib, he said ‘if I must stay here for my country, I will stay, but I am never happy for long so far away from Angora and all it means to me.’ Certainly a healthy view!
“It is surely better to let the Turks work out their own salvation, only helping when they ask for help; and even then we should be careful to give them what they desire and not what we may think best for them. It is really cruel to tamper with other people’s ideas, particularly their religion, and it does no good in Turkey. The gospel of Islam has made them the fine race they will always remain at heart.
“You can do good in practical, material affairs and for the diminution of physical suffering. I wish every American would preach the gospel of the Rockefeller Institute all over the world: the creed of the open window, a crusade against vermin and microbes. That would bring us a ‘new’ world.
“I would like to see a closer union between the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. The Turks have not your organising ability; but they have many sound ideas already operating in their hospitals.
“We must be quite sure that our civilisation is perfect before we force it on others. It is ‘mine,’ and I owe much to it; but I, for one, can see much to criticise.”