New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11

nfSt actual struggle since the close
of the World War, and ignoring the
endless frontier and other quarrels
which have filed the history Of the
last year, this Greco Turkish strug-
gle ranks as the second. Nor are
the two conflicts totally dissimilar
in their character, save that the
Greeks have been more fortunate
than the Poles in obtaining interna-
tional warrant for their aspirations.
Underlying ali else in the present
disturbance is the inherent weak
ness of the Turk himself as a
ruler. His great European estate is
gone; there is left only the vision
airy title to Constantinople, which is
actually commanded by Allied fleets
and occupied by British soldiers.
Nor is his hold upon eastern Thrace
more than momentary, cut off as
Jafar Pasha's troops are from all
communication with the main Turk
lsh forces. But even in Asia the
Turks future is dismal.
Was Allotted to Russia
All things considered, it seems
quite plain that the conquerors of
Germany, who were the conquerors
of the Turk also, would have pre-.
ferred to leave the Turk undis-
turbed in Asia, chiefly because it
was the easiest thing to do, and, in
addition, because no nation was
prepared to undertake the burdens
and pay the price of iquidating the
Turkish Empire. Had Russia re-
manned factor in the war, had
Russia remained real national en-
tity, then Constantinople and both
Armenias, together with Anatolia,
at no distant date, would have
passed to the Gar by virtue Of the
secret treaties of 1916. This was
Russia's prospective share in the
spells.
But the collapse of Russia elimi-
mated the Slavs from any immediate
participation in the division of terri
tory. Whether in the long run
Russia, either Bolshevist or mon
archical, may not seek the long de-
sired exit to the Mediterranean re-
mains problematical. At the least
the Bolshevists have begun to sug-
gest it. But for the moment Rus
STA can supply neither troops nor
administrators for any part of the
Turkish state.
But what is to be done with the
great territory extending from the
Black Sea to the Persian Gulf and
from Persia and the Caucasus to the
Mediterranean and the Egean?
To be sure, it Ahas already been
cut in two. The Arabian fac
ton has broken away entirely
and set up kingdom of its own,
which finds itself Immediately in
collision with French aspirations in
Syria and British in Mesopotamia
and Palestine. But there remains
that great mass of territory,
larger than France and the main
land Of Italy, and containing a
population Of above 100000,
which is marked on the map by the
names Anatolia and Armenia.
Turks Largest Faction
In this region the greatest single
ethnic element is the Turkish, but
this element numbers hardly half
the total, and before the massacres
the Armenian element predominated
alike in Armenia proper and in the
adjoining Russian districts which
Turkey annexed under the Treaty of
Brest-Litovsk, while the shores of
the Black, the Egean and the Mar
mora seas are inhabited by Greeks
in overwhelming numbers, as they
have been since the dawn Of history,
when the Persian attacks upon these
same Greek colonies precipitated the
great wars which gave Greece her
glorious era.
The Turk quite naturally claims
all Of this territory, together with
Constantinople. Fearful Of Arme-
MAN aspirations, he has been for
decades systematically massacring
the Armenians, while In recent years,
since the last two Balkan wars, he
has been deporting Greeks in vast
numbers. The Turkish claim rests
upon possession, ethnic preponder-
ance, taking the whole area as
unit, and the threat of arms, which
has been invoked already. Added
to this-indeed, overbearing tits
the argument of religion. The Sultan
~ the head Of the Mahometan
world is used rs the basis of the
claim that interference with the
Turk viii serve to arouse the mil
Hons 81 Mahometans in British,
French and even Italian colonies.