Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-08
US. AS MANDATORY
FOR TURKEY SEEN.
Correspondent Says italian
Greece Agreement Changes
American Position.
ARGUMENTS ARE SHOWN
BY JOHN r. BASS.
BY Cable to The Star and the Chicago
Daily News, Copyright, 1919.

Daily News, Copyright. 1919.
agreement between Italy and Greece
by which Italy withdraws her objec-
ton to the annexation Of western
Thrace to Greece has brought about
change in American position. The
American delegates. isolated. have
fallen back on the principle Of eth
| nology. The great majority Of the
population of western and eastern
Thrace are Turks, and therefore our
delegates contend that whoever takes
the mandate for Constantinople
should take the mandate for Thrace.
The position is strong for several
reasons. Both Constantinople and
Thrace have a Turkish majority. The
conference contemplates keeping the
sultan as the head of the. >Moham-
medan religion in Constantinople even
under foreign mandate. 1t is logical
that Thrace should share the fate of
Constantinople. ConstantinopIe with
porus or the Dardanelles. It is i'm
portant for the commerce of many
nations that these straits be kept
free and open. This result is' obtain
mandate. Such q decision would re-
move Thrace as q bone Of contention
between Greece and Bulgaria.
Mandate for Turkey.
The attitude Of the American dele
gates has given rise to the suppo-
sttfon that the United States expects
to take the mandate for Turkey. No
doubt the idea is not opposed by
American mandate French and Brit
ish commercial interests would be
safeguarded. Also any revival of
Russian ambitions for Constantinople
would find the United States between
Italian headquarters the discussion
is most frank. An important per-
sonage there said to me: what would
the people Of the United States say
II they knew that President Wilson
cept q mandate for all Of Turkey:
The Unite& States has the field Of
Mexico and Central America. Why
should you. take Asia Minor; the only
neld left to Europe for expansion!
lf you DO the whole Of Europe may
Argues for Plan.
An italian colonel who knows Tur-
conference replied: Russia is in chaos.
Germany will take decades to re.
establish her internal affairs. Great
Britain has territorial indigestion and
pas colonies, but nobody to send there
because her population is barely suffi-
Client at hqRe. Where then, 10 Europe
to revolt AGAINST the American man
date? Perhaps you mean that italy
wants room for her population and
2 field for her surplus productions.
Italy will have greater opportunity
II America comes, into Turkey. Under
an American mandate Italy would
squeezed Into a small section OF
southwestern Asia Minor, which win
prove of little value. What Italy real
~ needs Is toyassist America with
labor In deysf4RinE Turkey from the
Says D. s. Would Aid Europe.
DO not mako the mistake that Ar
western Asia Minor. All Of these coun-
tries, especially those inhabited by
Turks. are unit and cannot be sepa-
rated without great loss. In Turkish
asla Minor including o Thraes and
army. but only 900 emcien n 1 ofiscia L.
In Armenia you would need an army.
BY taking the mandate for Turkey
you will be doing great favor to
quarrels viii result over the division
Of territory"
But asked. what benent would
the United States getr"
Asia Minor Is the door to Asia and
Russia. You will need the field for
your commerce. You are exporting
today in the proportion Of $4,000, 900
Of goods. $7,000.000 to Europe. 1000.
South America. Your commerce In
Europe cannot last because Great
Britain and France must build bar
riers around themselves and their
more emcient production. Then you
will need these new countries. You
can say no many times, but the op-
portunity to say yes comes only once.
will save the population from suf-
fering which the European Quarrels
will Inevitably bring to them"