NEAR EAST TANGLE INTERRUPTS D. C. A. WORK
Information has recently been received by the Christian Association that political developments in the section of Asia Minor in which the Dartmouth in the Near East work is located have made necessary the temporary withdrawal of all Americans from the district.
Marsovan, the city in which Anatolia College is located, and in which college Walter B. Wiley '18 had been teaching, is the center of the trouble between the Turkish Nationalists or Kemalists as they are called and the Constantinople government. Until a few weeks ago, the 40 or 50 Americans in the city who were connected with the college and the Near East Relief, were not molested and all indications pointed to their being permitted to continue their work.
On April 1 or thereabouts, out of a clear sky came the order from the Nationalists giving them three days to pack up and get out of the city. The exact reason back of the sudden change in attitude is not known, but the supposition is that the Americans were charged with acts or language not in sympathy with the Nationalist policy.
A cablegram giving the bare facts of the order for withdrawal was sent to the offices of the board in Boston. A letter written by Dr. W. E. Strong '82 soon after the receipt of the cable reads in part as follows:
"It may be that this interruption at Marsovan is only of a temporary character and that as a result of negotiations through the American Embassy, the order will be revoked. The cablegram gave just the statement that the withdrawal had been ordered and referred us to the State Department at Washington for more information. Up to the present time we have been able to obtain no further light on the situation that led to the issuing of the order.
"We shall hope that the college can be opened again in a few months and the work started by Mr. Wiley can go on."
At a meeting of the alumni committee of the Christian Association held recently in Boston and New York, the situation brougn. about by the withdrawal of Mr. Wiley was discussed at considerable length. In view of bis expressed wish to get back to America for his seminary course in preparation for permanent work in the Near East, it was voted that he should return at once to this country.
Until such time as political conditions make it possible to start the work at Marsovan, it was agreed that the financial support promised for Mr. Wiley should be transferred to Dr J. K. Marden of the class of 1895. Dr. Marden is one of the best known American doctors in the Near East and the College will be backing a very fine piece of Christian medical service by helping in Dr. Marden s support. For the present Dr. Marden will probably be located in one of the American hospitals in Constantinople. When political conditions clear, it is expected that he will go back to his own hospital at Marsovan.
