PERSECUTIONS OF THE GREEKS IN TURKEY SINCE THE ...

INTRODUCTION xi
to preserve their nationality was a cause that justified
their persecution, and secondly, that the question of the
islands, the final settlement of which the Young Turks
sought, was most serious for the safety of the coasts of
Asia Minor.
This pro-Turkish German policy went even further.
It forbade the publication in the German press of events
which were taking place in Thrace to the disadvantage of
Hellenism. A telegram of the 10th of April, 1914, from
Mr. J. Dragoumis to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
says: "It is impossible to have accepted for publication
in the newspapers news relative to matters in Thrace.
A general order has been issued that we must not displease
the Turks." Even Von Jagow himself, furthermore,
confessing to the Greek Ambassador in Berlin, Mr.
Theotokis, the critical state of affairs, regarded this as a
consequence of Mussulman fanaticism which had been
aroused on account of what had happened to its disadvantage,
and he maintained further that this fanaticism
was fostered by Russia from a Pan-Slav motive with the
object of weakening the (Ecumenical Patriarchate, so
that it would necessarily later become a subservient tool
of the Russian policy. (Telegram of the Greek Minister
in Berlin, Mr. Theotokis, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Streit, of May 26, 1914. Ministerial Archives,
No. 998.)
Even the German Emperor, in order to conceal the
truth, did not hesitate to say to the same Minister that
only subordinate officials of the Turkish government
were responsible for the state of affairs, and not the government
itself, which was on the contrary, so he declares,
really endeavoring to put an end to the situation which
had arisen. But unfortunately for the Kaiser and his
Minister Von Jagow, the second persecution came on
apace, in the course of which the guilty ones were discovered.
(Telegram of the 29th of May, 1914, from
Mr. Theotokis, the Greek Minister in Berlin, to Mr.