Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20
SELFISH INTERESTS
RULE IN NEAR EAST
Allies Have Abandoned Concord in Deal
ing With Kemalists to Promote
Nationalistic Veal.

, with the Bulgar, and 1t is known that
the combination has been the source
Of much difficulty in recent decades.
Furthermore. the Turks might now
work hand in hand with the discord-
ant elements of the Balkans In hope
that eventually Turkish rights in the
straits and Constantinople might be
recognized. Neither, the Turks nor
computations or hesitancy about
forming agreements with purely
selfish and Interior motives in view.
and there is no reason to suppose that
future unless there oe some definite
line, of demarkation between the
Turkish influence and Europe
The British propose to maintain
that. and when the governments OF
France and England get down to
brass lacks in striving to unravel the
many tangled skeins in the near east
there is every reason to believe that
the French will not progress far in
advancing Turkish claims to Thrace.
The British foreign office has an
nounced that the French have thor
oughly explained their agreements
with Mustapha Renal. which are said
to have been o KID by Premier BRAND
before he came to Washington. but
there is growing in London the belief
that this does not end the matter. and
before many months have elapsed
there will be sharp conflict between
the policies of France and Britain.
Undoubtedly the British have
looked forward to influencing the
Turkish government. at least the old
one. While they have expected the
regime-though decadent it was the
one which signed the treaty Of Sew
res-other European countries. nota
bly, France. have gone forward and
practically recognized the kemalists.
In addition to obtaining commercial
and mining concessions the French
have obtained control of the Bagdad
railroad from the Mediterranean to
the Tigris. This concession is highly
important, for it prevents immediate
communication under British direc-
ton with the new Arabic kingdom OF
Emir Feisal. condition which would
have been exceedingly to the advan-
tage of England in view of broad in
terests throughout the near east.
This railroad likewise controls the
outlet Of the new Arabic realm and
If the French were Inclined to do so
they can choke off PROSPEROUS inter-
course between the Feisal's realm and
the outside world through Constanti-
nople and the straits.
X X X
The British in Constantinople will
be at disadvantage in communicating
with southeastern interests. whereas
had the old Turkish government been
sustained by all allies. Britain and
the allies as whole might have
been able to work the Bagdad rail-
road in unison and with particular
advantage to no one. AS 1t is. the
chief artery of the near east is in the
| hands of the French for development.
, which means that other feeder lines
reaching into regions where natural
resources are rich will be developed
by the French. In other words.
through the French respect for the
rights of the Kemalists. she is deal
Turkish authority. Frances position
in Turkey has been enhanced ten
fold over that of the British. even
though the British control most Of
the reaches from the Persian gult
to the Aegean sea.
One important feature in regard to
the whole situa ton lies in the future
actions of Greece. The Greek forces
have been the allies only vanguards-
the furnishing and con compelling ndnss force force
been more or less aided and abetted by
the English. while the French and ltal-
ians have looked upon Grecian agrees
sion with suspicion. The Greek failure
to press on to Angora and score de-
cisive victory over the Turks undoubt-
edly influenced Italy and France to act
in order to gain advantage for their ma
tionals, but their action has placed the
l.
sition, no matter what their places may
be for the future.
Grecian rights in Smyrna are de-
! clared recognized, but England believes
that with France and Italy obtaining
,, considera BILE economic and commercial
rights. and with both watching Greece's
aspirations with suspicion. they may be
inclined sooner or later through success
in their dealings with the Turks to take
: definite sides against the Greeks. It
may lead to the complete withdrawal Of
the Greeks to the east Of the Aegean.
possibly eventual confinement of their
influence in the isles of the Aegean and
coastal trading points.
AS the situation rests at the moment,
France is looking out for France, Eng
land for England and Italy for Italy.
and concerted action in handling the
Turkish problem as a whole appears a
| thing of the past. And the conflict of
interests as between the nations I'M
doubtedly sooner or later will lead to
sharp exchanges unless Turkey, repre-
scented by Mustapha kemal. brings
about such a solution as to throw the
allies together again in the protection
of European interests as whole.