Evening star., 1921-06-19
WAR POTS BUBBLING
IN THE. NEAR EAST
Dramatic and Dang gerous Events Imminent.
j British Arabic Policy May Foil
Bolsheviks.

of what he will do If Greek arms are
victorious 1t Is more to be believed.
| however that the British will prepare
for the events should defeat OF the
jGreeks come rather than lay plans to
oppose their desire.
/! Must, Strike Blow Mt Reds.
Britain realizes that the bolsheviks
must be struck a severe blow for the
perpetuation of British influence
even in India and the east. Britain
knows that Gen. Budeny's soviet
armies are massing in the Caucasus.
ostensibly for the purpose of over
running all those sections skirting
upon India and possibly with the in
tention of rushing Turkish assistance
at the critical hour. II it appears that
1.-THE bolsheviks are about to strike.
after heretofore refusing to use their
manpower in Anatolia and Turkey
schemes. the British then may move
expeditiously and even go 80 far as
to enter into agreements with the
Greeks, a thing not desired, but one
which events may force
Eolshevik and Turkish unity OF ac-
ton is in imminent danger. for Grecian
fleets have been permitted ingress to
the Black sea and undoubtedly Will
strive to break up the tramc IN mil
itary supplies now going on between
VIE DOlSneVkkS anu tHc ut - Ass>
Kenialists should gain advantage the
British warships could do mucn IN
assisting the Greeks. Lines OF com
munication would be too long to long
maintain two or three corps OF boil
shevik fighting men in Turkey once
sea traffic were broken up. II the Greek
warships efficiently go about their
business there even is the likehhooo
of smashing close cooperation oe-
tween the Turks and reds. with conse-
quent disarrangement OF plans 70
strike at the allies through southeast
ern Europe.
New Arabic State.
serious one may be CLEANED through
the action of the British in immedi.'
afely setting in motion plans looking
toward the surrender OF control ana
the placing of self government within
the hands of the Arabs. The long
! England over the future Of the Arabs
has been sufficient to deter the BRIT
ish from taking the action which IS
now announced. But there never mas
been much doubt that sooner or later
the British will perpetuate their infiu-
ence and keep the pledges that were
made to Emir Feisal before the Arabs
entered the conflict against turkey.
The present action is designed to ap-
pease Arab distrust. growing apace
since the fdTlS peace SoHASi ChSS. 4 nv
British action will go far in quieting
the Arabs. inasmuch as they will be
permitted to rule over Mesopotamia
as they choose. AS matter OF fact
even though the Arabs be permitted
to elect a ruler. as is planned and L.
handle their own representative gov
ernment. the British by their action
at once win the friendship of these
: nomad peoples and will be in position
to dictate indirectly the course OF
events in the new Arab country.
Even though the enmity between
the Arabs and the French is intense.
the former blaming the latter for the
failure to establish great Arab
kingdom. the British will be in posi-
tion to prevent untoward events-at
part Of the Islamic peoples against
continued French control in Syria In
political prestige the British Vt HI gain
much. Unquestionably they will be
locked upon as people who keep their
word. The Mohammedan peoples un-
doubtedly will be impressed. Right
at a time when the bolshevik ennis
saries have sought to play upon the
purported perhdy of the allies In not
keeping their promises to the Arabs
troll. The bolshevik influence will be
counteracted IL the British plan Is car
ried out. and peoples skirting upon
Arab regions will hesitate before
abandoning the friendship Of a great
mower for the fantastical and abor-
tive theories Of Lenin.
The action of the British. however.
undoubtedly will bring heartburn
ings to the French. who have pursued
a radically different policy in handling
subjects under the Syrian mandate
and have sought to implant strictly
French customs and modes of pro-
cedure in governmental and private
affairs The British example will GER
tainly lead to troubles between the
French and Syrians French politi-
cal prestige. which started to dawn
with the Syrian mandate. will be
seriously undermined.
There has been grave danger in re-
cent months that the Arabs would
make common cause with the Turks,
as threatened. The British move is
we'll timed. coming as it does when
the results of the Greco-Turkish con-
fiict are in doubt. At least 1t will pre-
vent a widespread revolutionary con-
hagration throughout the whole of
the Islamic world aud may be the
one big thing to Illustrate the spread
Of bolshevism, so ardently hoped for
by Lenin.
Some surprising developments are
certain to spring from the near east
in the immediate future. Politically
much Is to be gained or lost for all
those nations which have interests
lying In or skirting the Turkish do
main.