The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-03
OUSTING THE TURK
FROM EUROPE
In the. Opinion of French Statesmen,
will Cause Much Greater
Evils
New York Times)

Paris, Dec. 31-The announcement
in the Matin this morning that all the
Allies nad decided definitely to expel
Turkish authority from Constantine
pie stirred up a hornets nest in
French diplomatic circles. France does
not wish to put the sutton out of the
Ottoman metropolis; England does. 1t
becomes apparent that Lloyd George
has had his way again, and that the
Ottoman government will be trans
ferred to Brusa or Konieh. This de-
cision does not suit French statesmen
in general, despite the fact that
Clemenceau participated in this ten
tative conclusion.
While many noon and evening pa
pers which represent the views of
various political factions comment on
the development, it reamins for the
dignifed Temps, which always re-
fleets the view of the French foreign
Office, and generally that of Premier
Clemenceau, to ask that before the
French government agrees finally to
such settlement it obtain ratifica-
tion of its parliament.
1t must be borne in mind that
French statesmen do not oppose the
decentralization of the Dardanel-
les. On the contrary, they favor 1T;
but tLey contend that to put the sui
tan out of Constantinople means trou-
BILE without end with the Mohamme-
dan subjects of France and the other
allied powers. That is not their only
objection, btu it is the one most often
heard.
The Temps begins by saying that,
whatever is done with Constantinople,
the decision will have worldwide re-
suits.
"As soon as you throw this pebble
into the water" it says. mo one can
halt the waves which will spread in
all di7 ections. Is it question whether
the 8 rait on which Constantinople is
situatad shall or shall not be submit
ted to international authority? This
question does not arise, but is answer
ed in advance by universal consent.
The great maritime path of the strait,
which so many millions have an in
tcrest in keeping open, about never
again to be at the mercy of local
conflict, as in 1912, or of plot, as
in 1914 All the world recognizes
that they should be placed under in
ternational control, provided with the
financial resources, administrative
powers, and the military means neces-
sary. Without doubt this control
should be under the league of nations.
"The control of the straits is one
thing: sovereignty over Constantine
ule is another. For many reasons,
political, religious. military and eco
nomic, it is the disposal of CONSTANT
nople and not the control of the
Straits upon which hang all the
problems of the Orient. If we un-
derta'se to transport the sultan, and
the Turkish government to Asia II
does not matter whether or not Con.
stant NOBLE remains under Ottoman
soye1 eighty. tt is not practicable fol
a Tt .kish sovereign at Brusa or An
CORA or Konieh to exercise authority
over Constantinople. Constantlnoplt
is tha only city which can be the cap
ital Of the state containing Constan
tinopIe. If we transfer the court ane
administration into the Asiatic prov
inces. where no locality furnishes
suitable location, there will be moth
irp in common between the great city
O ffhe Crescent and the little ragget
kingdom which will live on in tbs
provinces.
aAs for sending only the Turkish
government into Asia, leaving Tn
sultan at Constantinople as reiigiou