The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-09-18

A solution Oh lDb tdkttTn QueS'
ton, 80 far as 1t affects Constants
nople and the straits Is not, OF
itself difficult. Leaving oct the
question OF conflicting aspiration;
OF great powers and strategic
powers, there seems no Logical
or reasonable basis for longer OPP
posing the return of Hellenic
rule to the Golden Horn.
Eight years ago, at the close OF
the second Balken war Greece
found herself suddenly increased
from a state of 2,600,0 600 inhabi-
tants with an area of $4,000 square
miles, half as much as that OF
New York state, to a kingdom with
$4,000, 900, with an area of $4,000
square miles. Six years later the
treaty of SeYres. still unratified,
bestowed upon her the rest Of the
European estate Of the Turk. right
up to the Chatalja lines, where the
Bulgarian armies came to their
final stop in 1912 together with
the Bulgarian frontage upon the
Aegean.
Thus Greece in Europe, with
the Aegean Islands became a state
or $4,000 square miles with a
population OF $4,000, 900. In addi-
ton the treaty OF Sevres placed
Greece in occupation of Smyrna
and a h%interland having an area
or some 5000 square miles and a
population of more than 1000, 900.
Their Boundaries Extended.
The present war with the An
CORA government of Turkey has
extended the Greek occupation in
Asia Minor until it now passes the
Bsgdad railway. North of the
Meander river, which is the from
tier between Greek and Italian
spheres of interest. The Greek
troops today occupy all OF the old
old Turkish provinces of Ismid,
sigma, Brusa and Adm. In a
word Greek occupation extends
from the Black Sea to the Aegean
ahd Constantinople is wholly sur
rounded by territory Greek by
conceded right or by virtue ~
military occupation.
Moreover. Constantinople itseIf 10
not only the home Of a very large
Hreek population, which has he
come the most important alien ele-
meht' but 1t is in tradition and his
,tory a Greek city. When the Roman
empire was divided, Byzantium be-
ZANE the capital of an eastern en-
pIre winch rapidly became HELEN
lZed and persisted as an indepen-
ueht creek state right down to the
in.eehth century. In it's period OF
prosperity, moreoCer. IL not alop.
tuled all of the Balkan states hut
ASIA Minor as well.
AFTER a long resistance this By
~hune Empire collapsed in the face
OF the onrush Of the Turks. II en-
GuFed however long enough 10 save
europe from ultimate subtection nv
tne TURK, for when the Turk did
arrive In the valley Of the Danube
mere was sufficient vitality and
UNITY In Europe to defeat the Mos
rem invader. But, although the Rv-
canine empire perished and not
onIy Constantinople but Athens be-
Vaue Turkish. there survived and
~ Cohstantinople, not in Athens, the
GGauItlon OF Greek greatness and
ureek subjects Of the Osmanli be-
.anIe powerful in the Mohammedan
loday h Truk Is defeated and
lhs European estate Is gone. save
oniy as he clings To a sIiadowy
ulc to Constantinopic. where the
auiN.i sits in his palace, protected
~ Allied bayoncts. Actually the
RIVER n passed from Constant
SnopIe to Angora and from the
ouItan 10 Kemal Pasha. The Sui
an Is no mere than n prisoner OF
ue Great Powers. as such, with
power or influence even
among his own people.
roWerless as he was. the Sultan
excepted the treaty Of Serves which
sase Greece Thrace, with AdrainopIe
,hN a frontage on the Aegean on
r. Asiatlc shore, with Smyrna. But
SnInnai Pasha, asserting that the
aot1an was a prisoner and forced to
Sept TINS treaty under duress, re-
80 II and led the Turkish troops,
aau IN Asia Minor, to battle
certlst the Greeks, The real as
,~ai "',ahted with the theoretical capi-
became Angora. But victorious
az first. Renal seems now IN have
oen decisively defeated. His army
nas long been in retreat since II was
neavlly beaten at KutaIa ana or the
Dasdad railway.
Ircece Comes Into Her Own
y Meantime Europe has watched
~ spectacle Of this new war, pow
hess 10 intervene because, while
ne %Ie Brllish desired to see Greece
mOlorlous, the French and Italians
"ete equally anxious to see Greek
s,mles expelled not alone from
Tpmgrha but also from Adrianople.
Nus Greece, now the possessor of
ESosl or the Turks old lands IN
~ and beginning 10 take foot
~ me Asiatic shore, finds herself
~ helr OF Turkey. not only in the
later or real estate, but also in the
|. ase or all the old rlvalries and
~ea'ousies which have divided Eu-
rope for a century.
stiet II is clear that the present
~SGsuation cannot long continue.