New-York tribune., 1921-06-26

fensive against Mustapha Kemal
to be eatalogued definitely as lost,
strayed or stolen? Or has it
tions summarize the latest complica-
tions in the queer war in Asia Minor
a war tinged with political extrava
gsnce and abounding in logical absurd
tiles.
The major Allied powers want the
Greeks to quit and go home. The
Greek people voted in effect to quit
when they recalled Constantine to the
throne. But that doughty monarch
after expelling Venizelos, stole the
latter's clothes. He has sought to per-
suade the Allies that the recall rlebi-
scite should be taken in Pickwickian
sense only, and that he is clearly en-
titled to reap the benefits of Venizelos's
craftsmanship, in spite of all that he
has himself done to frustrate and dis
credit it.
Tino, the tool Of Berlin, the would-be
ally of the Turks and Bulgarians, has
recently burgeoned out iii proclama-
tions to his subjects as the restorer of
Greece's ancient glories at the expense
Of these two late associates of his i'm
perial brother-in-law's enterprises. If
he scuttles out of Smyrna he may di-
minish his stature as hero to Athens.
His crown might even be lost in the
scufie if his credulous worshippers
,Lo$ \ b
hopes and prestige they struck when
they rashly summoned him back from
Switzerland,
War in Asia Minor
Result of Treaty's Lapse
The war in Asia Minor grew out of
the failure of the powers which signed
the Sevres Treaty to enforce it. On
the Turkish side power passed quickly
from the nominal government of the
Sultan in Constantinople to the new
Nationalist leaders in !angora. The lat
ter decided to fight rather than accept
the terms Of the treaty, which left the
Turks only a meager remnant of the
territory which they held before the
war.
For seeing this resistance, the Allied
powers had chosen Greece as the mill
tary guarantor of the treaty. Venizelos
accepted this function, and in return
for his pledges the peace conference
gave Greece not only Bulgaria's front
age ON the Aegean Sea and practically
all of Thrace, but also Gallipoli,
Smyrna and the whole western section
of Asia Minor, running up to Constanti
nople. When the Turkish Nationalist
government, under Mustapha Renal
refused to recognize this award, Veni-
zelos sent a Greek army to Asia. It
took possession of most of the intended
Greek zone, driving the Nationalists
back toward the main line of the Con-
stantinopie- -Bagdad Railroad.
Had Venizelos remained in power the
Allies would probably have kept en- try
ing to enforce the Sevres compact. 1t
is true that obstacles to its enforce
ment were multiplying. The Kemal
government consolidated itself The
Turks and the Russian Soviet armies
overran Armenia and Lenine offered an
alliance to Kemal.
French Decide to Form
agreement With Turks
The French, having troubles in
Syria, decided to evacuate Cilicia and
TO come to terms with the Nationalists.
TtA 70 nlc
territorial claims in Adalia. Yet if
Greece had remained faithful to the
Entente the provisions affecting west
ern Asia Minor might have been exc
cuted. This was not to be. King Alex
ander died Of monkey bite in the fall
OF 1920, four months after the treaty
was signed. Thereupon the Greeks, or
the theory that they were weary Of the
burdens of Venizelos's expansionisi
policy and wanted rehabilitation
ousted the great Cretan Statesman
and brought back Tino, the implacable
enemy of the Entente and the one
successor to TIE throne whom the
major Allied powers could not in self
respect accept as political associate
The restoration plebiscite of Noyem
Der last practically cancelled Greece
signature to the Sevres Treaty an,
renounced all Greek claims under il
France and Italy at once demanded (;
revision and Great Britain eventuall,
fell IN line. The Greeks, the Sultan
ministers and representatives of tn
Angora government were called to Lon
don for conference last February
In order to stabilize conditions i,
the Near East it was determined I,
restore to Turkey all the Smyrna prov
ince and the territory east and soutl
Of the Dardanelles and the Sea Of Mar
mora.
Constantine Sees Chance
To Win Support of Allies
Some concessions at Greece's exnens,
IN Thrace We're also authorized.
Both the Turkish governments wer
pretty we'll satisfied with these terri,
and naturally so. But Constantin
rejected them. He preferred to carr
on a war on his own account agains
Mustapha hemal, holding that if
snould take Angora and destroy tn