Evening star., 1922-08-14
ALLIED NEAR EAST
TENSION CRITICAL
AngIo-French Split Over
Turk Policy Appears
to Widen.
BRITISH FAVOR GREEKS
English Troops May Be With
drawn So Athens Army Can Push
Advance on Constantinople.
EY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
By Cable 10 The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1922.
CONSTANTINOPLE, August IL
"Our position here may be compared
to that of man sitting on a barrel
Of powder with lighted cigar" was
the way in which high allied Official
described the situation in the near
everything is perfectly calm. The
Greeks and allies have withdrawn
their advanced guards a sufficient
distance from each other to avoid
clashes. while the nationalists. though
continuing to reinforce the 1smld
front. do not show signs of hos
tility.
Constantinople itself is very quiet
but the ponce discover daily new
stores of rifles, hand-grenades and
other munitions hidden in secluded
parts of the Turkish and Greek quar-
,ers of the city. Natives believe that
solution of the cris is near at hand
tut they do not think that a peace
full settlement is possible. The Mus
selmans are preparing to assist the
nationalists the best way they can,
while the Greeks are preparing to
help the Grscian army as soon as 1t
succeeds in crossing the frontier.
Peace Hopes Shattered.
= In the meantime the allies are try
S]ng to get the pelligerents together
to discuss peace terms. Toward the
q end OF last week great optimism pre-
vailed when it was reported that the
Greeks and Turks would accept the
latest suggestion and meet either on
hopes were shattered when ii became
known on Saturday that the national
lists were unwilling to give up
single condition of their demand.
which may be summarized thus:
Full economic and political inde-
pendence for Turkey within her
ethnographic limits extending from
Mesopotamia to the Aegean sea and
as far west as the Bulgarian border"
The seriousness Of the situation
lies mainly in the tact that the Brit
ish and French near eastern policies
ticularly since the speech made re-
Gently by Prime Minister Lloyd
George, of following a proGreek pol
icy. though it is understood that the
British representatives here have
been instructed to try to preserve
belligerents and make efforts to con-
clude a peace giving satisfaction to
both parties. as neither is able to
claim a complete victory. For those
acquainted win near eastern pOll-
cies it is evident that these instruc-
tions are very vague. as it is impos-
sible to satisfy both belligerents at
the same time.
French Favor Turks.
The French follow a more definite
policy. This is based on the belief
that peace can be restored in the near
east only by acce pting all the Turkish
territorial claims. 1t is thought that
the present intractable Turkish atti-
tude is mainly due to this policy.
1t is persistently reported that in
case of a breach between France and
Great Britain the British will with
draw their troops. thus enabling the
Greeks to advance on Constdntinople.
From a we'll informed Turkish source
II is learned that an understanding
has been reached between the Turks
and French for such an eventuality.
The Turks will be allowed to mobilize
three divisions in Constantinople and
vicinity to reinforce the French army
in opposing the Greek advance. 1t is
asserted that loan of 20.ooO,o00
francs (about s1.63o.00O) will be
granted to the Constantinople govern
ment and according to the same
source of information the Turkish
general staff now is working over
time to have everything prepared for
Immediate mobilization.
No official confirmation Of the report
can be obtained, but the activity of
the Turks in the last few weeks in
dicates that they are preparing for