'The Turkish and Pan-Turkish Ideal by Tekin Alp' [‎23v] (51/58)

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rapprochement for purposes of resisting a common danger and of mutual
protection is not yet an accomplished fact. Turkey has hitherto been far
too occupied with internal and external disturbances, wars, and crises,
while Persia was cowering under the knout of the notorious Liakoffs
Cossacks, and those of his playmates. There is, however, no reason for
postponing or hindering this rapprochement and union now. As soon
as Iran is freed from Russian despotism, efforts will be made to form
a strong and binding union between Turkey and Persia.
For this reason, the Turkish propaganda in Persia is by no means
hostile to that nation, but will, on the contrary, be a strong factor in the
internal and external progress of the country, especially as the Turks
in Persia form the progressive element in the population.
The province of Azerbaijan, which is the richest, most active, and
most enlightened in Persia, is almost entirely inhabited by Turks. Two
and a half millions are of pure Turkish blood, and think, speak, and pray
in Turkish.
The Turcoman and Kashkai population, who live outside this pro
vince, are also of pure Turkish descent. Even in the other parts of Turkey,
the progressive and internal power is mostly in the hands of the Turks.
The national wealth of Persia belongs to the Turks, who in their turn
fill the Persian Government’s treasury. The warlike families in Persia
are also Turks ; they form the national army of the Government, whose
one strong support they are.
The Kajar dynasty, which has ruled over Persia for centuries, is also
of Turkish origin. Of the same descent are the Grand Vizier and other
State dignitaries, in whose hands has hitherto been placed the welfare
of the State. The majority of Persia’s thinking men are Turks. The
spirit of the administration is Turkish, as also the leading spirit of Persian
civilization, even though these be clothed in Persian guise.
Unfortunately all these services rendered by Turks to Persia have
been wasted for the former, because all those Turkish warriors and
heroes, Shahs and Grand Viziers, thinkers and scholars, have lost their
Turkish consciousness and have become assimilated with the Persians
in writing, speech, and literature.
It has also been proved historically that Turks have always rendered
great services to science, and especially to intellectual life * never, indeed
under Turkish names and designations, but under names taken from
those nations with whom they are living. This is shown in the case of
the Arabs, for instance. Men such as Farabi and Ibn Sina, who are
famous as the protagonists of Arab civilization, belong to the Turkish
race.
We needed, however, research students and historians such as Tahir
Bey and Leon Kahun to enlighten us about the nationality of those
heroes of civilization, and to show the world, even the Turkish world,
that it is absolutely false to believe that Turks had never cared for or
helped civilization at any time or in any place.