Evening star., 1921-06-19

hardly expect succor in men from Moscow in
time for his decisive struggle with the Greeks.
large Greek fleet has absolute mastery Of the
Black sea; it's a long walk from the Caucasus
to the Anatolan fighting front. There has been
talk. however. of an expedition via sea to
Varna, thence across Bulgaria (supposed
friendly and eastern Thrace to Constantinople.
the goal Of the czars. That is no longer feasible,
now that the Greek feet Is past the straits.
But. finally. there is the route through Rou-
mania and the Roumanan army to the same
goal. Can't be done? Perhaps not. But Moscow
never acquiesced in the loss of Bessarabia.
Some way Bessarabia must be won back. Why
not now? If Mustapha kemal were to smash
Constantine, 1t would be q perfect time for
, starting something in the Balkans. Even If the
red troops should be stopped at the Pruth,- the
Bulganians might be expected to rise and fall
on the Dobrudja and on eastern Thrace. Almost
anything might come out Of a mess like that.
These are<but elegant speculations suggested
by the wild rumors afoat Probably far-fetched,
but anything is possible in a world turned up
side down.
X X Xxx
NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST.-The Greek Of
fensive has been postponed until some time in
July. Tho British government has notified
Mustapha Kemal that, II he tried to make
constantinople. he will find himself at war with
Britain. A British brigade has taken over the
Ismid front from a Greek division, showing
that the threat is not an empty one. This ac-
tion however. would not 'seem according to the
British Interpretation, to imply abandonment
of that strict neutrality which, as Mr.. Cham:
berlain> assured the commons. the British
government has hitherto maintained. But there
Is good reason for thinking that the British
would abandon the attitude Of neutrality If the
French would do likewise. The explanation of
the French reluctance is a long story and in
volvesi the entire complicated and unhappy
history of recent Franco-British relations in the
near and middle west. But II the report Just
arrived is true. that the Turkish nationalists
have attacked the French in Syria as we'll as
in Cilica, and have seized Aleppo. it. is difficult
to believe that the French, despite their hatred
Of Constantine. while being attacked by the
nationalists in one quarter lin reputation of
pledges) will longer refuse to lend countenance
to Greek operations against the nationalists in
another quarter. Lord Curzon is reported to
be in Paris. trying to arrange a common Franco
British policy toward the Angora government
whose insoence exceeds.
l have story to tell concerning Meso-
potamia (the French and the Turks and the
Emir Faisal come into 1t. as well as the British)
and another concerning Palestine, where the
experiment of home for the Jewish race is
not working smoothly Another day.
Never be too Here is a report Just
come in asserting that France is still resolved
to pocket her insults and make peace, il any,
wise possible, with Kemal: Italy ditto; and that
Britain. left alone. inclines to yield and give
the coup de grace to the treaty of Sevres This
astounding report calls for confirmation.
X X X
JAPAN.-Dispatches state that Baron Shide-
hara. Japanese Ambassador to the United States
is holding conversations with Secretary Hughes
upon matters in controversy between the two
nations and upon other matters of common
interest holding seeds of controversy. OF the
former sort are the zap question. the immigra-
tion question. the question of the Japanese oc-
cupations of Shantung in China. of the northern
part Of the Island of. Saghalien. and Of vIadis-
vostok and one knows net what more of the
maritime province (part Of the territory of
the independent Far Eastern Republic).
Reduction of armaments' has not been
mentioned among the subjects of conversa-
tion. II the CONVERSATIONS result in definite
agreements upon the subjects in controversy
and satisfactory understandings upon the other
matters. an agreement to reduce armaments