New-York tribune., 1919-02-03

INC BoSphoruS. the n9rd2nelleS and
protector&te over Armenia has come te
naught. and the allotment of these ter
ritories must be solved in another
manner.
Greece is a claimant Cor much of this
reglon, and probably Will obtain val
liable territorial acquisitions. but that
She Wall be permitted to cut Bulgaris
o8 from the Egesn and fulfil her am
hltlon to recreate the medieval Ryan.
tine Empire is doubtful This problem
of Constantinople and the Straits, viii
Its mighty strategic Importance anC
equally great dangers, which have al
ready vexed the world for more thar
Ter. centuries, is one Of the most diff,
ficult before the conference and /:
complicated by the interests of al
great and many minor European states
The Twelfth Wilson Point
Thus the twelfth of Mr. Wilson'S
points is now before the conference
which is:
The Turkish portions of the pres
ent Ottoman Empire should be as
Sured secure sovereignty, but the
ether nationalities which are now un-
der Turkish rule should he assured
an undoubted security OF life and an
absolutely unmolested opportunity of
Dardanslles should be permanently
opened as free passage to the ships
and commerce OF all nations under in
ternatiopal guarantee
The handing over of Arabia, Meso-
potanria and Syria to British protec-
ton was an easy compromise compared
with the difficulty OF determining the
status and control OF the Marmora and
Black Sea provinces The future of
the Turkish state is TO be reIegated to
the interior of Asia Minor with prob
able territorial strip giving Turkey an
outlet TO the Mediterranean.
Turks May Fulfil Threat
In the meantime it is essential to
move military forces into this semi
barbarous empire, whose masters. the
Turks, may fulfil their threat of re
cent decades to destroy Santa Sophia
whenever their final day comes and
they are compelled TO fall back before
the Christian armies
British temporary reoccupation of
Constantinople, though it has aroused
minor jealousies and criticism, will
prevent the destruction of the magnif-
icent historical Santa Sophia, formerly
the cathedral of the Eastern Orthodox
Church, but for the last six centuries
mosques, and With Santa Sophia will
save from possible destruction other
valuable property as well as many still
more valuable lives
This capital, most nagniicently sit
uatrd OF any of the worlds great cities,
has been regarded by the Turks as the
seat of the Caliphs- the vicegerents of
Mahomet on earth. which title the
Turkish Sultans have hitherto as
sunled. Should Constantinope come
under Great Britain's administration.
British control oil ali great Mohamme-
dan countries will be accomplished,
making Great Britain overwhelmingly
the greatest Mahometan empire.
To Consider Military Measures
The. supreme inter~Allied war coun-
ell has been summoned to reassemble
At Versailles to consider military
measures in Turkey
Although it is too early to state def
nltely and exactly in what manner the
different sections of the Turkish En-
pire falling to Great Britain will be
administered, it is understood that
Syria. Palestine and Hedjaz will be
under control of or protected by the
Cairo government, while Mesopotamia,
which is already profiting greatly by
the presence of England's forces, will
fall under the Indian administration.
1t is contemplated, furthe rmore, that
the British influence in Persia will as
sumo a more definite character thus
linking up the British chain extending
from Egypt to India.
Statements are being circulated in
Par1s. .to, the effect that England has
been considering bargaining with Spain
fers the return of GibraitaFls 1t is
do
tain tempting offers which were once
considered by the British Admiralty
and for various reasons declined. No
further discussion Is now taking place.
Result of Itaiys Attitude
One. result of Italy's attitude regard
ing the Adriatic has been the decision
that the mandatory system shalt only
be applied by the peace conference to
son. in upholding his project of inter-
naturalization, is basing his attitude
on. the acceptance by the Allies of the
fourteen points, thus enabling him to
contend that agreements made early in
the war among various powers do not
necessarily continue effective.
The definite organization of a league
of nations has become an absolute
necessity under the conditions develop
ing Inc league Is no longer merely a
theory of international understanding
but is assuming definite functions, the
exercise of which will demand not only
occasional meetings of ministers of
states, but a definite and permanent
body invested with authority for the
performance of definite duties, and the
opinion grows that Mr.. Wilson will be
offered the first presidency of the per-
manent international organization.