Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-11-15
TUE TURKISH SITUATION


!, proceeding which has OCCASION
ally proved beneficial to the CONFER
ono. which followed. Whether the
DELAY in the Lausanne peace confer
.rce is to be one of those occasions
remains to be seen.
While Ismet Pasha, head OF the
turkish delegation is cooling nis
heels he is saying things which must
couse some of the French ana brl'ish
cars TO burn. Here is part OF MS
defamation:
Trusting in the French and their
word of honor, have Done "na'
f.w generals would be able 10 oo-
stunned victorious and enthusiastic
1,oons along an arbitrarily drawn
limo And I have come here, apan-
dcrine nv army and am told not
vet. we are trying to reach an agree
r,ent among ourselves.
It is likely to occur to some that
Nero flddling while Rome purneo
isn't the only instance on recoro Oh
tbose in authority being oblivious to
their obligations or unmindful OF the
,,,gnitude of the catastrophe. which
impended
"Trusting in the French Perhaps
Clemenceau may be able to explain
t,,at attitude Of France to the salts
faction of the Americans who nave
believed that failure to restrain the
Turk at this opportune Juncture
would be crime against civillza-
ton.
"Trying TO reach an agreement
CT what pray, have the leaders Oh
English and French thought been do
ing in the four years since the
Armistice that they haven't arrived
# some agreement respecting one OF
the principal nerve centers or the
worlds disorder? OF course no in
telligent person is unaware OF the
extreme difficulties in the way, but
IN four wears, with the Turks de-
feated nation and with a Demon
stration of what might be done with
them If concerted action were used,
the fzzle which has been permitted
is a world wide disgrace to the par
ties involved and may ultimately des-
troy all the prestige those powers
lrad among people where it was OF
the utmost importance to them that
their prestige should be maintained.
In light of this; knowing as we do
BEYOND all question of that hereditary
suspicion of one anothers motives. OF
the utter inability to rise to the
Leight of a moral purpose in settling
this ages old problem, there are some
OF us so gulIible or SO self-deceived
as to claim that if America had
icincd the League of Nations all this
would have been avoided. Belief in
the transmutation of metals betrays
far less creduAty than does this
dream Of an alchemy within our
ruwer to change the human nature
Of Europe which even the World War
could not change. This, too, in light
of the painful fact that already it IL
being said France is suspicious of our
motives in the Conference to Limit
Armaments, believing we were aid
ing and abetting selfish British
policy to the disadvantage of France
Surely if such a frank, cards on the
table endeavor as this country then
made is to be misunderstood what
could possibly be expected of us at
tempting to reconcile the warning
possible we may in protection Of
cur rights be dragged into the con-
troversy, but we best not delude our.
selves with the idea that we would
De welcomed and long entertained as
ministering angel.
Already we have said through oul
Secretary of State that, in effect, the
Dardaneles should be kept open te
the world. Yet this is just what il
said to be feared by France. on the
ground that England with her SUI
rerior naval strength would become
a controlling factor in the affairs OIL
the region. Any other arrangement
so far as it is now possible to see
must in the nature of things ulti.
.mately leave the control in the hand.
CT Turkey, who. whatever her pro
testations. would unquestionabl,
close them to suit her purpose.
The Turks seem to think that il
beating the Greeks she has licked
the world. 1t Is not clear how an,
method other than a resort to fore,
can dispel that delusion. While tn,
Turk is cooling his heels there seems
to be nothing in the situation tina
really need worry him except thu
possibility of schism in the NOLAN
medan world. There is possibility o
tits. Egypt already is demanding ,
representation at the conference
England and France don't want t.
fight but are bluffing in the hop
o. saving their respective faces
a situation which appears to b.
understood by. one of the Turkisl