The New York herald., 1920-01-21
Sounds Like StngcInnd.

the great Powers.
Sounds Like StngcInnd.
Nothing is impossible In Turkey today.
Conditions of international intrigue and
counterplay have reached such a state
that even the most sensational and melo-
dramatic measures arc accepted as mat
ters of course.
The recent seizure OF the papers dsclos-
ing British plot to effect rising OF the
Kurds against the Turkish Nationaist3
would be refused admission to the pages
of credible fiction. Yet there was no gain
saying the documents The British re-
pudiatc the officer concerned, Major Noel,
saying that he exceeded his authority.
Amid primitive conditions. the sophisti-
rather desperate game, feels constrained
to make use Of any instruments whatso-
ever. When the inner history of the last
fifteen months of Near Eastern politics is
written, If ever, II will read like novel
by Balzac or Dumas or Anthony Hope
The extraordinary measures that have
Leen adopted-none Of them more amaz-
ing than tins proposed alliance of Turk
and Briton-are evidences of the desperate
and important situation that exists about
the shores of the Mediterranean.
why These Strange BedfeIIowsf
AS the case now stands, the ma jor issue
in the Near East. from the European
standpoint. is the contest between Great
Britain and France for orcdominancc in
Turkey. France scored a great victory
i'm Syria by forcing the British out Now
France is rather favorable to the Turkish
Nationalist movement, whereas the Brit
ish are opposing it,
II was when the Anti Nationalist Cabi-
net was in power. a few weeks ago. that
the reported agreement between the Brit
sh and Turkish governments was effected.
Damad Ferid Pacha, the Anglophile Grand
Vizier. who has since fallen. was the agent
through whom the pact was perfected.
Whether or not the rise OF the new Cab
met. unfriendly in spirit to the British
and pro-Nationalist. will nullify the bar
gain remains to be seen.
Baldiy stated. Turkey has something
the British badly need in addition to ter
ritory, and that Is influence over the Mos
lem world. because the Sultan Is callph
of all Moslems. There arc more Moslems
under the rule of King George than any
other monarch. and his government has
always indicated its readiness TO 60 TO
great lengths TO insure the tranquility
and good will of these followers of the
Prophet.
On the other side Of the bargain Turkey
needs n powerful ally and advocate before
the peace tribunal. Great Britain has
promised. II is said. to fill this role There
by she will not only balS the schemes OF
certain rivals. but she will win the good
will of her Mosem subjects and carry
out her pledges 10 them that ST. Sophia
would not be taken from Islam and that
the Sultan would not be forced out Of
Constantinoplc.
The latter condition Is announced as
one of the stipulations OF this amazing
agreement. The head of Turkey--Con-
stantinople-is not TO be severed from the
body. Asia Minor Dismembcrment of out
lying members. such Arabia. Syria and
Mesopotamia. does not seem to disturb
the Constantinople Turks greatly. They
are content with the guarantee that the
Ottoman Empire shall remain seated on
the Bosphorus.
Doubtless this first announcement Of the
Anglo-Turkish agreement will be declared
false by the British officials. after the
historic fashion OF old diplomacy, which
never balks at n lie. IL the facts that
have summarized in the foregoing para
gra phs are not correct, then certain for
eign offices In Europe and observers in
Constantirople have been more griev-
ously misfed than Is their won't