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4/1/1948 - American Colony and American Institutions by Richard D. Robinson

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT VORLD AFFAIRS NOT FOR PUBLICATION Robert Coliege Istanbul Turkey April Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs 8Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers Life spring approaches Even I write water Bosponus shimmering bright morning Just rising green Anatolian hills beyond After these months study through winter I beginning strong interior where blood country pulses through arteries comon peasant straining backbone Turkey I unearthed I repeat either Turk American opinion knows about comtemporary Turkey The reason soclety which moving rarely stirs fIstenbul Nnkra perhaps ocassional visit Bursa Such important questions sgricultural potential Turkey effect distrlbutiona popular strength present government reason apparent inactivity Communists Turkey degree peasant nationalism Islam political economic force change general standard living decade kindred questions remain unanswered until knows people Anatolia I doubt there exists Westerner position attempt answers those questions I above Many exhaustive encyclepaedlc knowledge contemporary significance pattern My comments should construed necessarily critical Americans Turkey extremely limited their horizons nature their I however place blame U S State Department American press neither which apparently interested little gaining understanding People Turkey villages A perect Page RDR point Hauser article Turkey February issue Saturday Evening Post It opinion American Journalism worst inaccurate simple sprinkled quotatlons unduly sensatlonallaed style giving evidence whatsoever attempt understand Turkey light accomplishments problems I press point further however I general comments about American colony Istanbul three American institutions An American colony existing foreign environ generally source considerable interest little amusement The atmosphere small gossipy worst friendly Istanbul colony exception Its members handfull organizations namely Near East Office American Mission Board American Hospital Admiral Bristol Hospital Istanbul American Colleges Robert College sister organiation American Cirls College American School Language Art Girls Service Center YWCA American School Language Commerce Men Service Center YMCA American Consulate seven consuls latest count handfull American business houses Socony Vacuum Eastman Kodak Associated Fress Singer Sewing achlne International Business schine General Electric The latter incidentally formulating plans erect lightbulb factory This include gencles American firms which there legion I confine myself further discussion Mission Board Service Centers American Colleges Since Republic Turkish Government maintained strict prohibition against proselyting Western ssionaries The still force probably continue throughout foreeeable future Actually Christian heritage Turkey Christian still abuse In Turkey there exist fifty hristian convert among Moslem Turks prefer themselves Followers Christ rather Christians The present missionary organization merican Ission Board first began Turkey Since founding_ Republic aside certain amount undercover proselyting there three general missionaries TUrkey Mission Board significant contributions modern Turkish At moment Board operates schools Turkey Girls hlghschools Uskudar Izmir highschool Tarsus RDR middle school Te estimated enrollment around students medical clinics Telas Adana fledged hospital azlantep In addition American Board offioe istanbul maintains publications department which published number creditable translations religious otherwise Currently concentrating children books translations uericsn books The Board credited putting first children resding books published Turkey Also under preparsatlon comprehensive English Turklsh dictionary It interest published isslon Board conflscted Government At oslem publications likewise supressed Now however religious publications enjoy large measure freedom instance three oslem magazines appear regularly Istanbul stands Apparently Govenamnent longer feels reactionary religious forces constitute serious threat avowe secular evolutionary publican government Turkey problems confronting Isslon Board Turkey twofold prohibition gainst foreign doctors practising Turkey Turkish license apparent impossibility securing building permits Turkish overnment expand Board schools This indicate necessarily particular prejudice Governent rather merely relunctgnce gates orein influence generally field education If permits awarded American Mission Board instance would difficult refuse similar Soviet request This nificsnt point latter traditional appointed guardian Orthodox Church flock Turkey The called Service Centers Men Women present curious anomaly They connected YCA YWCA organizations United States indirectly through intermediary committee New York receive insignificant financial nerican source However legally there Conrectione In Turkey centers classified simply schools under jurisdiction inistry Education The YMCA started Istanbul operated freely until In dubbed religious orgsnizatlon building locked sealed police order That section building formerly School snguage Comnnerce function YMCA opened shortly thereafter following appeal Government The Y building theoretically purchased Convention Respecting Conditions Residence Business Jurisdiction signed Lausanne July Page RDR School entire building reopened afterwards It known officially American School Language Commerce operates acting director Mr Thorn Hammond Englishman currently worried about situatlon slnce permit which Center Government original permit given early JO YMCA operate language commerce school Center supported financial assistance United States about estimated budget spclal Turkish campaign about membership remaining In erestlngly Socony Vacuum large contributor The estimated budget totals about The staff conslsts American director Mr Ezra Young United States absence English sctln director Turks Board Directors consistln Americans Turks ngllshmen The actlvltles facilities Men Center include clases nglish French German accounting gymnasium summer islands Sea lrmora embership numbers about O00 Turks walks The Turklflcation Girls Service Center further advanced For instance estlmsted budget totalling about American sources Other obtained through Turkish contributions remaining tuitions On Bo Directors Turks Americans Britisher German The staff consists American Director Miss Phoebe Clary Amerlcan sctlng assltant director seven Turkish citizens This Turklf cation result definite pollcy directed towards iaauarated after embryonic Turkish Government In relationship Turkish Government rather Interetlng The YWCA began Trkey In YWCA presented documents Ankara registration Ataturk government This request permlt notlflctlon existence organ lzatlon Turkey A permit considered necessary existed before No acknowledgement received nkara The following question permit educational YWCA raised istanbul pollce Cent8r closed short months later permlt received which classified Center speclal school under Ministry Education In requested effect activities being carried under YFA In Page apparent impossibility carrying YWCA program Turkey meeting New York consider policy Association The upshot group clded ofTurification relious policy Istanbul branch Since policy followed large measure succes lembership stands nearly double figure Formal clsses given English typing stenography French sewing sports Turkish Ther informal groups English conversation French nversation glish reviews English poetry knitting sightseeing dramatics dancing singing choral speaking cooking gymnastics handwork fmily relations TheGirls Centeralsooperates asrcamponthearmora girls Turkey Another activity providing nurseries three Istanbul factories during months The nureries operated AM PM meals given children workers About girls being trained Center The Girls Center operates children libraries Istaubul The other major mericsn enterprises Istsnbu1 particular interest colleges women operated Near East College Associat headed lcally Dr Floyd Black In conjunction college there academy included years nlish middle school According Turkish colleges highschools lycee students enter direct middle school Nevertheless colleges registered under American universities college under University Masaachusetts under University New York offer BA degree whiCh accepted United States The history these institutions found numerous publications I attempt repeat Rather I limit counts facts which generally known Starting gradtinE class students College Robert College graduated class The chsnes racial composition graduating classes during interim considerable significance It until years after founding Robert College first Moslem Turk graduated Another followed seven years later It until number loslem Turks among graduates became siniflcant Throughot 9ollege history until graduates consisted order importance Greeks Armenians Bulgarians first which MOslem Turks actually tituted majority gradutln class At Tuk racially sPeaKing would coming their their country Analysis registration Page Fall Robert College produced following interesting statistics TABLE I Number Student Academy539 College Arts Sciences Engineering School Military students TOTAL TABLE II Students Accordi Religion No Mo Greek Orthodox Hebrew Gregorian88 Roman stholic Protestant Syrian Christian TOTALA TABLE III Students According Citizenship No Turkish hellenic Iraquimn Iranian O Bulgarian Italian Spanish4 Other TOTALS TABLE IV Students According Professions Their Fathers Contractors Business Workmen Store Office Lawyers Unemployed living Farmers Physicians Pharmacists Engineers Tailors Government officians Company Directors Army End Navy officers Frofessors Factory owners NatiSngl Legislators Pge RDR Teachers Gardeners Merchant Marine captains Barbers Bank dlrec Stock broke aritime agents Ambassador Journalists Judge PhotographerPinter Factory directors Preacher Dentists TOTAL There littIe doubt influence Xstanbul American Colleges great throughout decades Bal Near East The graduates includes prime ministers cabinet ministers generals leglslstors important business pofesslonal figures It should added appropriately hushed voice includes present Communlst approved Bulgarian Consul General Istanbul However spite achievements there seems evidence considerable erosion around edges witing college financially straitS I understand there seemingly based suspicion situation abetted great efficiency operationOn amlulstrtlan every facuy member I talked academic standard dropped alammlngly possible exceptlon Engineering School No doubt contributing cause youthfulness rapid turnover great teaching staff The existence considerable anagmnls between administration facul probably turnover What seems needed anything young vigorous admlulstrtlon Without lstanbul American Colleges Well numbered Sincerely yours Richard D Robinson Eeceived New York