The New York herald., 1921-03-18
FRIDAY. MARCH IS. 1921.
England and the Main Chance.


Those who do not know their Brit
ish history will be startled by the
trade pact signed between Great Brit
ain and the Russian Soviet Govern
ment. They will be astounded by the
Near East agreement now ready IN
London for final signature under
which the Turks, after being thrust
out of Europe bag and baggage as one
supremely desirable result of the war,
and after being thrown partly out Of
Asia Minor, are now to be brought
back and set up in business again at
the old stand in Constantinople. They
will be dumfounded at the terms un-
der which not merely Smyrna but
Thrace-the Thrace which was Greek
soil. race and religion for centuries
before Il was enslaved under the
Crescent-is torn away from Greece
and again given over to the Turks as
their rebuke for having made war on
the Allies: as their punishment Tor
having administered in the Gallipoli
campaign as crushing and costly de-
feat upon British arms as they sus-
tanned in the war; as deep and bitter
humiliation as British pride and pres
tige ever accepted In any war and rs
unmitigated agony and horrible de-
struction rs heroic British soldiers
ever suffered on this earth.
And as IL all this were not enough
70 leave those who are unfamiliar
with their English history dazed and
bewildered, there is the further un-
surpassed and unsurpassable achieve
ment whereby under the smooth, capa-
BILE, International, diplomatic manipula-
tion in London even internal Turkish
strife Is stilled and the wurring Con-
stantinople and Nationalist factions,
as they are known. have been brought
Into perfect domestic harmony and
political solidarity, to the edification
Of Christianity ami the glory Of
civilization.
But this is the England of surpnss-
Ing craftsmanship, from time i'm
memorial the England of long head,
far vision and steady resolve, with
ever an eye to the main chance-and
there is so much to be considered
and done.
The Turkish Nationalists have been
hand in glove with the Russian Boi-
shevlsts. ana these Reds have been
hanging OYER the very edge OF India.
But by the trade pact with Soviet
Russia there shall be no hostile lem
onstration. there shall he no propa-
ganda against British possessions.
rights and interests anywhere on
Cons green footstoOl.
A cunning and effective device,
this trade pact, 10 work political
alliance without needing TO take a
foreign treaty before Parliament,
where the Lloyd George Ministry
would have u face scathlng criticism
and savage attack for this most
odious bed fellowship, The Ministry
single handed may look after com-
merce arrangements 80 the trade
pact and the treaty politics, lied up
IN the same bundle. serve exactly
to fulfil the Lloyd George purpose, .
purpose of boundleSs possibilities.
1t may be TINT for The time being
few goods viii 70 from British ports
to Russian ports and fewer gold rabies
from Russian buyers to British poc!;
cts. The British courts always ieal-
Gus guardians of the rights of British
subjects. from their liberties 70 their
Shillings. may decree that every six
pence of value that drops into the
United Kingdom from Soviet Russia
belongs 10 British banker, mer-
chant or q worker that had been de-
spoiled of his property possessions by
BolsheylSt tyranny and terrorism Yet
he chance * we'll worth taking that
II such wrinkles arise they may lie
ironed ont when 81 much greater
dlnicultles AMI problems are being
overcome triuniphantly III thcie is
stream Of immediate trade and
gain. SO much the better. II there
Is not. there surely will be other rich
returns.
For besides the safe Keeping Of
India, there arc the priceless oil
fields Of McsopoiamIa. rimmed b. the
Turks and the Bolshevists. now 50
friendly and helpful There i Egypt.
There is even Arabia. There Is Per
sia, with its millions of pounds Of
English loans and Other investments.
and with It's political floci,s ranging on
the flanks Of AfghnniStan and India.
Small wonder then, That the coidly
calculating craftsmanship in Dowalnr
Street could indulge Premier BRAND
4 in some of his postwar enterprises
md adventures not M all commerdinE
nemscres 20 the practical business