Evening star., 1922-11-12
TURK CRISIS NECESSARY
TO FORCE ALLIED UNITY
Dangers of Near East Have Brought
Cohesion of Policy That May Check
Nationalist Dreams.

to take over control of eastern
Thrace. there are 10000 armed Turks
on the European side Of the straits
and 80 900 near Constantinople on the
Asiatic side. The allies are between
two fires and it is believed that in
case of conflict the Thracian forces
would be enlarged greatly through
recruiting efforts on the part of such
armed Turkish military forces as have
infiltrated there.
Turks Daxed for Moment.
/ However, this menace has not de-
tered the allies in the least and the
Turks have met such a firm show of
strength that they are dazed for the
moment. The Turks have had every
reason to believe that the allies would
''dilly daily" In deaing with them.
There has been no reason for them to
believe otherwise. They have been
"dilly dallying" ever since the world
war armistice was signed, and there
has been a marked division of senti-
ment and policy between the nations
who fought together to crush the
combined Turko- German strength in
the near east.
menace in the past week has done
more to solidify the allies than any
thing that could have happened.
For one thing. it is realized in all
Of the allied foreign offices that de-
velopments since the Mudania con-
the Turk canuot only not be trusted.
but that he is almost certain to Gre
ate trouble in Europe even though
he enters under the most peaceful
auspices.
Balkans Aroused.
The Balkans are afame with anti
Turkish sentiment and the smaller
nations have not been in the least
loath in making it plain to the larger
powers that they are in danger and
will fight IL necessary to preserve the
present geographical and political
situation. The Jugoslavs. the Greeks.
the Rumanians and even the Bull
gars are not in a pacific frame ot
mind in SO far as the Turks are con-
cerned, and it is declared they all
have taken steps to strengthen their
military forces recently in anticipa
tion Of future troubles. sure to be
created by Turkish inf1ltration into
Europe.
Though the pressure of the little
entente statesmen may have been
Poincare to take a right-about-face
in his near eastern policy. there is
likelihood that Poincare himself has
seen the utter futility of previous
near eastern policies. in that he is
not dealing with a people that have
respect for European arrangements
or political beliefs. The manner in
which the Turks have turned on the
French undoubtedly also has been
factor in influencing the French
I,,s1 l~< To-, xH Il nf oil }al
political solidity.
Want No Parley Delays.
The French are insisting at the mo-
ment that there be no delays in the
convening of the Lausanne confer
ence. The British asked that the con-
| ference be postponed for two weeks.
| or until after the British elections.
with the view of the new government
entering the parley with fixed poll
cies. The French declare that there
should be no delay In assembling in
| view Of the critical situation in the
| near east, they believing that any
| waste of time only opens avenues
| leading to warfare.
I The French realize. and they are
(, right, that the slightest incident can
bring on bitter warfare which may
involve practically the whole Of
Europe again.
The Turks. brains heated with the
fires of nationalistic dreams. may in
| itiate excesses against foreigners at
any moment They may strive TO
| take in advance that which is to he
negotiated at Lausanne and the al
lies, by virtue of necessity, would
enter into a struggle. which. though
not desired, would be necessary to
maintain the balance of power in the
near east. Lloyd George during the
past week declared aptly and cor
rectly that the only way an occi-
dental people can understand any
thing is through the threat Of force.
He declared that the allies must stand
firm throughout If the Turks do not
take the whole situation in hand and
initiate a war that will be extremely
dangerous to the whole world.
Though fouted when he iniated this
firm policy, the Lloyd Georgian view
today is being followed in every al
lied capital. even Lord Curzon. speak
ing for the new British government.
declaring the situation to be one sur
charged with menace and demanding
| the stanchcst sort of stand from Eng
land acting in unison with Franco and
Italy.
1t Is this hrmness that happily the
allies once more show that may yet
forestall the Turk in his ambitions
ana may prevent him from COM
mittinR excesses. Without this Arm
ness the Turks would go to any
length to realize the nationalitic aims
of Mustpaha Kemal and his cohorts
in Angora