'The Turkish and Pan-Turkish Ideal by Tekin Alp' [‎24v] (53/58)

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occasion and started the arousing of the Vlach element, was there any
teal awakening. At that time, however, Vlach Nationalists started to
build Vlach churches and schools, and the Roumanians organized an
extensive propaganda. The Greeks tried, indeed, by robber bands and
all kinds of forcible means, to put down the new and unexpected move
ment ; but the leaders who were sent from Roumania took up the challenge
with the greatest decision, and simply opposed the Greek gangs with
Vlachs.
With the financial help of the Roumanian Government, just one
decade saw the creation of a combined Vlach element of a few hundred
thousand people.
It may easily be understood that a movement which was so success
fully started by a few Roumanian idealists could also be conducted in
Persia, and would have an assured success, in that the difficulties encoun
tered by the Roumanian Nationalists would not have to be overcome
by the Turkish idealists in Persia. There is no power in Persia to put
down such a movement, because it could not do harm to any one. The
nationalization of the Persian Turks would even be a great and unex
pected help to the Persian Government, because an enlightened element
of from three to four millions, thinking and acting in unison, would thus
be formed in Persia. If the standard of civilization were raised in Persia
b\ this movement, a strong internal union would thus be possible between
the two countries.
Persia could be situated with regard to the Turkish Government as
Bavaria towards Prussia, or Hungary towards Austria, i.e. Persia can
live her internal life in absolute independence and liberty, while outwardlv
forming with Turkey one body and soul, one great united nation.
The idea that in helping the Turks in Persia, Turkey will lay hands
on the country, is foolish and unfounded. It has always been maintained
that Turkey has no desire for territorial expansion. No one can be
a better judge than the Turks themselves of the difficulties and disad
vantages of ruling over heterogeneous elements of population. The
future of Turkey lies only in the extension of her economic and progressive
scope, and in an increased number of hands and brains to work for the
progress and development of the Turkish nation.
If Persia, as a Mohammedan power, accepts the idea of a Union, the
Turkish population will be increased by three to four millions, but the
Turkish Empire by about ten million souls.
It is without doubt that many Turks in Persia are eager for a Union,
and would not hesitate to devote their lives to the realization of the
project. For among the Persian Turks, too, the idealists and “ Fedai ”
(Zealots) are numerous. They have repeatedly proved that they are
willing to lay down their lives for an ideal. The Persian revolution, which
was crushed under the heel of the Cossacks, and put down by the knout,
was started by the Turks in Azerbaijan. The heroes who sacrificed their
lives for the realization of their plan were mostly Turks, as also were the