The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-17
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TIE NEW AMER of AFGHAhiSTAAE
Menace of Another World Conflict
Looms in Situation Resulting
From the Indecision of
Peace Conference
By F. CUNLIFFE.OWEN.
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'eace Conference

conveying an impression OF forebod-
ings and of grave fears for the future.
during the victory reviews in Paris
and in London was entirely in keep
ing with that of his brother Field
Marshal. Lord Haig. They both
seemed to appreciate the hollowness
of the peace which they were being
called upon to celebrate, and the i'm
probability of its proving to be of a
lasting nature. How Lord Haig feels
about the matter is no secret. Only
the other day in a remarkable speech
at Edinburgh he warned his country
men in the most earnest fashion OF
the Imminent danger of another war,
SURPRISING in magnitude, in extent
and in horror" the one lately brought
to a close. 1t would be "a war OF
continents" he declared, ''of the ORR
ent against the Occident." He added
that this war is inevitable II 1.-The rela-
tons of the various States continue as
they are now"
1t is known that Lord Haig when
he spoke thus had in mind the condi-
ton of chaos which prevails on what
he has picturesquely described as the
causeway between the East and the
menia and the Southern Caucasus.
And the experience Of many centuries
past goes to show that when con-
fiagrations start on this causeway they
invariably spread to the Orient and
to the Occident. There is every reason
to fear that they will follow the same
course In the present instance. In
deed, the Indications thereof are most
ominous.
There is no question as to the re-
sponsibility for the situation. 1t lies
squarely at the doors of the Paris
conference, which in all the months
of its deliberations has failed as yet
to arrive at any determine ton on
the subject Of the projected mandates
for the Ottoman Empire. Manifest in
decision on the part of the Peace Con-
gress has paralyzed every initiative,
and indeed every action. constructive
or restrictive, by the military ami
civilian officials of the Entente In
Turkey, where their authority has
come to be derided. It has also afforded
opportunity and encouragement 10 the
Young Turks to organize imposing
forces for resistance to the demands
of the Allies.
Even before the Paris conference
| held its inaugural session in Deem
Der last the great Powers dominating
It had committed themselves to the
enforcement of Armenia and to
full protection OF the millions Of
| Greeks In the Ottoman Empire, es-
pecially in Asia Minor, through the
mandate Of one OF the Entente ma
tons.
| Had the matter been at once taken
| in hand and the mandate entrused
to Greece, already then possessed Of
the moral and financial backing of
France and Great Britain, there would
have been but little opposition In Tur-
| key. Greeks lived in perfect amity
| there with their Moslem neighbors for
centuries, attaining fortune, influence
and even high Office in the empire.
while the thousands OF Turks who
have remained in Crete since 1t was
annexed to Greece are perfectly happy
and contented there under the Hellenic
flag.
Greece had and still has a finely
equipped, French trained army Of near
half a million men, and also an Eng
lish organized navy close at hand To
give force to the mandate. which
would have been for the purpose oil
safeguarding the home rule Of the
Armenians. and of the rights Of the
Greeks in Turkey, while leaving the