Bishops Rebuked

To Senator William E. Borah as chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations came a protest last week from 110 Protestant Episcopal Bishops of the U.S. against the U.S. ratification of the Lausanne Treaty with Turkey. The bishops, headed by Bishop William T. Manning of Manhattan, would have no relations whatsoever with "an avowedly unrepentant and anti-Christian government which destroyed a million inoffensive Christian men, women and children," and still holds "in Turkish harems thousands of Christian women and children." Certain routine Turkish atrocities were detailed.

Promptly, suavely Senator Borah answered, telling the bishops in effect to mind their business:. "They [U. S. business, educational and religious interests in Turkey] combine in asking that the treaty be ratified. They feel it necessary for their protection. . . . The leading powers have all concluded, treaties with Turkey. ... To refuse friendly relations with all peoples who reject Christianity is not only unthinkable as a practical course for the Government to pursue, but I had always supposed that the great object of Christianity in international affairs was to establish friendly relations, not only with other Christian nations, but with the anti-Christian nations, that they might, be brought in touch with the teachings of Christianity and thereby be induced to accept its benign precepts. . . . Are you in favor of employing an army and navy to effectuate righteousness and justice? The only alternative to that is to establish the best possible treaty relations and friendly intercourse, and thus, exert such moral influence and such moral leadership as we may."