The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-11
INTERNATIONAL
CONTROL FOR
TURK CAPITAL
IS PROPOSED
Allied Government of Con-
stantinople and Straits
Only Solution to Eastern
Question. Says Simonds.
ALBANIAN SITUATION
BY FRANK n. SlMONDS.
Copyright 1919 by the Mcclure News
\ paper Syndicate.

BY FRANK II. sIMoNDs.
Copyright 1919 by the Mcclure News-
II paper Syndicate.
In two recent articles l have dis
cussed the situation in Northeastern
and Southeastern Europe, the problems
which must be solved at the Versailles
Congress. In these discussions have
sought to isolate the question present
ed by Poland. the Baltic provinces, the
new Jugo-Slavic and Czecho-SlovaK
states, together with the changed
conditions in Rumania. In the pres
ent article mean to deal with the old,
familiar Eastern question. which for
more than two centuries has plagued
Europe and produced wars innumer-
able, Of which the recent struggle Is
only the most terrible.
Once more, at Vienna. and again
at Berlin. Europe, this time with AM
erica sitting as full partner, is to
strive to remove the old obstacle to-
ward peace. At Vienna not the slight
est thought was paid to the demands
or even the rights Of the peoples OF
the Near East, that they had rights,
that they we're even nationalities, as
contrasted with subjects in this re-
mote region, was not recognized by
those who laid down the. constitution
of the New Europe, followed with the
upheaval OF the French revolution and
of Napoleonic Wars. Nor did the
Congress Of Berlin pay more real at
tention to this phase OF its task. al
though the demands of nationalties
lad already made themselves heard.
Succession Of Wars.
As a consequence Of the failure OF
h. Berlin Congress, we have had, in
'Tcent years. in the last decade, an
Uninterrupted succession OF wars and
'hreats of war growing out of the
iIcstern question and beginning with
the annexation Of BOSNIA and Here
rovina by Austria in 1908. From the
Congress of Berlin to the outbreak of
S:he world war the. Balkans have been
Nhe fighting ground Of Austrian and
Russian intrigue and in this time Ger
many has more and more completely
directed and shared in Viennese pol
icies.
In all this time the battle for the
possession Of the Straits, with Con-
stantinople. has been the moving mo-
tive Of the Russian statesmen, while
Austria has sought to push her en-
pire southwark to Salonica. But these
two purposes. which were not direct
ly opposed and might have been real
lied by cooperation. were brought in
to conflict by the German determina-
ton to create little Europa and ex.
tend German domination from the
Baltic to Suez and the Persian Gulf.
German policy thus aimed at pre-
renting Russia from reaching the
ca1I ISo
nj British policy, surviving from the
Beaconsfield era. but growing weaker
after the occupation Of Egypt and the
ed the whole face OF the situation in
the Near East. Britain withdrew
from Constantinople and was becom-
ing reconciled to Russian supremacy,
while Germany succeeded England as
the first friend and defender Of the
Osmanli against the hereditary en-
emy.
Russian Claims Abandoned.
In the present war one Of the many
secret agreements between the allies
recognized the right Of Russia to
have and to hold Constantinople and
all OF the shores on either side of the
Straits and the Sea of Marmora. A
final compromise between British and
Russian policies was arranged and
Britain abandoned policy which from
the Crimean war onward had denied
Russia an outlet on the open sea- But
the fall of Russia abolished this un-
derstanding and rescinded this agree
ment There Is no longer any need
to recognize Russian claims because
they have been abandoned by the
Russians themselves.
As a result there exists today an ad-
mirable opportunity to dispose of the
main difficulty In the Eastern Ques-
tion. the possession Of Constantinople
and the Straits. Russia and Austria.
the immediate rivals in the Balkans
have disappeared as factors, one by
complete obliteration. the other by the
fall to anarchy and Bolshevism. Eur
ope can today deal with the whole
matter without having to take into
consideration the hereditary rivalries
OF Romanoff or Hapsburg, while the
German power to influence the situa-
(tion has gone. as has German prestige
at Stamboul.
II is for Europe. for the allies at
Versailles. to determine the fate of
Constantinople. The solution of the
DEOBlc!u may tdhc ouc VI luTe0
courses. The Turk. under some sort
OF international direction may be per-
mitted to remain in his present cap
ital The Greek may be permitted to
revive the memories of the great
Byzantine period and re-occupy reg
ions once entirely Hellenic and still
inhabited by a very large Greek pop
ulation. Finally, the Great Powers
may set up some form Of international
control. outside the limits Of any ex-
listing nation, they may make Constan-
tinople an international state. ruled
by the League Of Nations or by some
machinery devised by the Versailles
conference.
censtantlnopIe Question.
OF those three solutions. the first
10 BY all odds the least desirable. II
the Turk stays In Constantinople. even
though his power be reduced. his forts
destroyed. the old intrigues and the
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