New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-27
The Turkish UnseMement
By Franz II. Si,nonds

aroused is even more concerned with
mascus. Moreover, Arab unrest in
Mesopotamis has instant reaction in
Egypt.
AS for the proposal that the United
States should undertake a species of
'protectorate for Armenia, this is no
more nor less than a clever Lloyd George
device. Lloyd George is seeking to
counter on President Wilson, whose in
PREVENTION in the matter OF the Adrj-
attic settlement and of the Turkish ar
rangement upset dearly bought ar
engagements. Now, In effect. Lloyd,
George produces a proposal which
amounts to q demand that the United
States put up or shut up"
Ne Shall ''Shut Up
In all probability we shall shut up"
since to put up" is now impossible
because the situation in Asiatic Tur-
key has become wellnigh hopeless.
Turkey has, in truth, escaped from the
control of the Allies. All but the out
side rim, the %seacoast, is now in the
power Of Kemal, who can mass con-
siderable forces in areas which are
admirably suited to defensive warfare.
10 get rid of him, even in Armenia.
would mean a long and hard campaign.
and temporary success would hardly
change the existing conditions. for
the Turk would come back if he were
not watched by armies.
Thus n must recognize that in
dealing with the Eastern Question.
quite as much as in the matters Of
Germany and Russia, the Supreme
Council has completely failed. -Ithas
solved nothing, it has settled nothing
once more the British have disclosed
that traditional skill in diplomatic
negotiations which has for another time
gained FOR them the real prizes of the
game: Constantinople and Bagdad. the
control Of the Bosporus and the mas
terry of the valleys of the Eupbrates
and Of the Tigris.
So far the San Reno conferorro b..
oone no more h establish the fact Of
BRITISH supremacy in the Mediterranean
vlndlcate the British claims in advance
10 settle the Mediterranean situation nc
suited British interests, political and
commercial. But this development has
only embittered Anglo-French relations.
because the French see the British send
ing troops to occupy Constantinople as
a detail in assuring British secur;+v IN
the Near East, but encounter British
opposition when French troops are em-
ployed at Frankfort to defend French
security.
A Doubtful Policy
In all this chaos the United State.
cannot afford to mix. The settlement
which has been sketched at San Remo
is no settlement; the suggestion made
to the United States to take oyor A..
menian responsibilities might he com
pared to the proposal that u rich bank
accept the task of reorganixing a ~r.
way line, bankrupt in its entirety. FROM
which all the subsidiary lines and a mr.
t'on OF the main line-in a word. all thu
fractions which could conceivable he
mace 10 pay operating expenses-had
Deen separated. AnG n the Near Fact
70 use the same igur. the British have
acquired both terminals.
American appearance in the Nea,
East is Il doubtful policy. at best. bu,
under existing circumstances there can
90 no thought Of such q course. Il il
not tnst America would desire to con.
o'''on participation in tho Near East.
erh a"airs upon the promise of posi-.
Die pront, but the situation created at
san Aemo lns1res not alone vast cx-
peho't"re In life and in money but thu
hopeless waste of both.
Copyright. 1920. Mcclure Newspsner sv,
siaaicats)