Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26
GREECE AT THE PEACE TABLE

the Black sea above Constantinoples
including, in fact, all that now re-
mains of Turkey in Europe.
AS against the Bulgar claim to
session-the Greeks point, out that
there are $1,000 Greeks as against
80, 600 Bulgars in certain of the minor
cities, while in the vilayet of Adrian
ople they lay claim to having $4,000
nationals as against 245.ooe Turks
asserted. total $4,000; the Armenians.
159, 900, Jews. $4,000: foreigner"
$50 900 and Bulgars. 1900; total OF
723,300 Christians and Jews, as
against $4,000 Turks, the Greeks be-
ing therefore the second strongest
nationality numerically.
The Greek claim as to Asia Minor and
its of Lying island is seriously compf-
Gated by not only the Sc
The Twelva cret treaty of London OF
1915, but by Italy's act
AslanuS. ual possession OF the
"Dodecanesos." or twelve islands lying
Off the shore Of Smyrna. In 1912 Italy.
then at war with Turkey, occupied
the Dodecanesos the inhabitants OF
which are preponderantly Greek. num-
bering 10000 of that nationality,
$4,000 Turks and 1000 Jews. When
the Italians landed in the islands as
a strategic precaution against Turkey
the inhabitants welcomed them joy
fully as saviors from the hated and
oppressive rule Of the Turks. Gen
Angelic, the Italian commander-in-
chief, is quoted as assuring them I'm
the most categorical manner that
after the termination of the 1talo-
Turkish war the islands, which are
under the temporary occupation OF
Italy, will receive an autonomous sys-
tenn of government" 1t is asserted
that he added: Il tell you this. both
as a general and as a Christian. and
you may consider my words as gospel
truth"
The islanders were gratified at this
expression, but to insure the de1nite
recording of their aspiration they sent
delegates to Patmos the next month
and adopted resolutions proclaiming
"the age-long national wish of the
islanders for union with their mother
land of Greece" Gen. Angelic re-
fused to receive copy of the resolu-
tions, but copies were sent to the Eu-
ropean powers.
Under article s of the secret treaty
of London of 1915 Italy was promised
full possession of all. the islands OF
the Dodecanesos at present occupied
by her"
While 1t has been considered as
most likely that Turkey would be
compelled to move TO and
oo.npv %ho veriap known
generally as the Anatolia
miAoi. or western Asia Minor.
there is a definite Greek calm based
on chronological grounds to at least
the western quarter of that territory,
bounded by a line drawn north from
the city of Makri. on the gulf of that
name near the island Of Rhodes. due
north to the Sea of Marmora- 1t is
contended that from west of this
line to the sea "the character OF the
country is entirely Greek, as Greek as
the provinces of the free kingdom
of Greece. Language culture. civili-
cation, custom. habits--everything 10
Greek, so much so that even the
Turks who inhabit those districts
speak Greek because business ts
almost entirely in the hands OF
Greeks. In certain cities the entire
population is Greek"
Insistsnce upon the Greek claims 20
the Dodecanesos and to western Asia
MinoR might seriously complicate not
only q provision for the Turkish ju-
risdiction, but involve q conflict with
ItaIy's claims based upon the present
physical possession Of the is1ands.
There is, however. ground for coln-
promise and adjustment. II the peace
OF poptu ohnrflA AaH{Aa
to grant these claims In full. Recog-
milton Of the Greek rights in Thrace
and in the Dodecanesos may -pEc1e
to be the baeis of settlements Tor
which the Greeks are looking wfdt
az keen an anxiety as that felt by i
other nationalities now repeonenfa4 i
at Paris with demands tor Teoa012.
ton and redress ot wrongE IS