New-York tribune., 1920-11-30
France w arms
Allies to Keep
Eye ON Greece
Fights Constantine's Return
and Also Would Prevent
Alliance of Turk National
lists With the Bolsheviki
Leygues's Attitude Plain
Domination Of Smyrna by
Papoulos and Return of
STREET. to Athens Opposed
BY Ralph Courtney
.Speciai Gable 70 rhc rr,h,,,-

SDecfdl Cable 10 The Tribune
Copyright, 1920, New York Tribune Inc
GENEVA, Nov. 29.-The Tribune cor
respondent to-day obtained from the
best informed source a statement Of
Frances attitude toward the situation
in the Near East, particularly with
regard to Greece and Turkey. These
news may be said to represent the
position taken by Premier Levgues in
hls conferences this week end with
Lloyd George in London.
When it WAS proposed at Allied con-
terences in London last February and
March to give Smyrna to Greece, rep
resented BY Nenzelos, and all Thraco
as far as the Black Sea. the French
government objected strongly, insist
ing that these grants would burden
Greece above her strength. would make
turkey an irreconcilable enemy of the
Greeks; would necessitate military sac
r'hces out OF proportion TO Greece's
population of only 5000 900. and would
make certain the fall Of the Nenizelist
government
Greece Shows Attitude
Tie Greek elections proved con-
ciusively that the country does not
want 20 support an army of 100000
men.
A the moment, With Turkish Ma
tonalists on the verge of allying them
selves with the Bolsheviki. France re-
cards. with extreme disfavor, the pros
pect of Constantine's return to Greece.
the domination cf Smyrna by Gen
erAlisslmo Papoulos VINO is said TO be
q German SPY, and tire return to Athens
o. STREET, who is known to be an agent
of the former Kaiser.
It is believed that the Bolshcvst
army that has JUS, defca ted General
Nrangel in the Crimea win now turn
ali It's arms and ammunition to aid
MustaphA Kemal, leader OF the Turk
ish NatioAalists. 1t is feared that
these combined forces will march west
ward through Asia Minor and within
three OF four months will be opposite
Cons tantinople. The Constantinist
Greel, army. facing these advancing
forces, would have no assurance of
support. as it is commanded by q man
who hates the Entente
On the other hand. the Allied-Turk-
ish treaty of SeVrcs has 7 ot been rat
fed BY any parliament and the French
Senate and House of Deputies have
that they will net approve the docu-
mont.
Under ,hesc circumstances the
French government believes that the
only wise decision is to promise TO
give Smyrna back to the Turks on the
condition that a regime is established
which viii control the country and
preserve the Christian population. The
government feels that this regime
should be recognized by Mustapha
Renal, the real Sultan.
Keep Eye on Greece
Philippe Barthelot, Secretary General
Of Foreign Affairs for France. has
evolved scheme for all this. Tho
policy which he has worked out Is
framed with the idea that Constantine
viii lose his popularity after he re
turns to Athens and VIII eventually
leave.
st all costs the French believe that
Constantine mus. be prevented from
coming permanently INTO power in
Greece, and the Turkish Nationalists
must be prevented from forming an
alliance with the Bolsheyiki. Premier
LcEgues is trying TO reconcile this
view with the British attitude as set
forth III Earl Curzon's note submitted
to France yesterday, which argued that
as the Greek army exists il must be
used. Meanwhile, it is suggested the
Allies must watch Constantinc's acts
The French feel that events may
move faster than Allied deliberations
They hold that ii Constantine returns
to the throne the Greek troops, whose
morale is already reported very bad,
will be beaten and the Allies will De
forced TO negotiate under uusatisfac-
tcry conditions with Muatapha Kemal
For this new sacrifices would be re-
Quired on the part Of the Allies.