Greeks in America - eBooks4Greeks.gr

EUROPEAN BACKGROUNDSIica. But these are extraordinary times and there isa great deal of speculation as to possible combinationsbetween the Young Turks, the Bolsheviki andthe Tartars. They first dream of a Pan-TuranianAlliance between the Turks in Asia Minor and theTartars of Caucasus and Turkestan; they furtherdream and scheme of Pan Islamism, uniting the Moslemsall over the world under the leadership of theTurks. Enver and Djemal Pashas are representedas scheming with the Bolsheviki in carrying* outsuch plans.The Balkans still constitute a danger spot andthe Eastern Question has always been a cause ofunrest in Europe and even in the world at large.Should the Bolsheviki form alliances with Pan-Islamic and Pan-Turanian elements and succeed increating chaos in the Near and Far East, the effectsmay be far-reaching in Europe and even America.ECONOMIC CONDITIONSThe East unchangeable.—The East is unchangeableor moves slowly, consequently customs, arts,trades, continue pretty much in the same way forages. The fields are plowed with the same kind ofplow used in patriarchal times. Sheep and goatsare tended by shepherds to-day as in classical orBiblical times.Trader's banks.—Greeks are commercial and seafaringpeople. So they are the principal traders,bankers, and merchants in the Levant. The NationalBank of Greece, the Bank of Athens, theIonian Bank, the Bank of Mytilene, the Bank ofOrient are the principal houses, and have branchesin many important cities both in Greece and Turkey.Export and import.—There is a great deal of importand export business between Greece and Turkeyon the one hand, Europe and America on the