Evening star., 1922-10-01

! tween Kemal and the British to ex-
tend French influence. With France
drawn into the fight actively. there
is every reason to believe that it will
be but a question Of time until Italy
likewise is forced to act, not only to
sustain allied agreements, but to
perpetuate political influence in such
settlements as eventually must De
made. once decision Is reached upon,
the seas and battleflelds Of the near
east.
The French have been rabidly pro-
Turk in their utterances since the
British took their firm stand at
Chanak and declared they would pro-
tect Europe even though other pow
ers withdrew their support. The
allied agreement of week ago was
hailed as the beginning of the
ascendency of French diplomacy and
the relegation Of British influence.
Turkish Perfdy Apparent.
But events of the week have indi-
Gated Kemars perfidy. Whether he
has been directed from Moscow or
not it cannot be said. but nothing
positive. in the way of peace has
emerged from Angora. for the
spoken words of Turkish statesmen
. have been counterbalanced by the
constant military encroachments
along the Dardanelles. Turkish
trickery may be expected tomorrow.
next week ana next year anu IhiS
! the French must be beginning, to
suspect. The French foreign Office
has been in almost constant COM
munication with the foreign offices of
Rumania- and Jugoslavia. the first to
/ he drawn in in case the Turks should
succeed in Europe.
The little entente. fathered by
France. eventually will be dragged
into any struggle between the Turks
and the British and particularly Will
,, this be true should the Turks pene-
trate Europe. there to carry on their
orgies of bloodshed, arson and rapine
such as have marked their Anatolian
successes France will be placed in
the position of being forced to protect
her smaller brothers. Even though
French sentiment may be against the
British effort. political alliances
sooner or later will compel Poincare
| to take right-about, face. Particu-
larly will this be true In case of Brit
ish success. for if war should come
and the Turks should be defeated.
as unquestionably they would be
in any test of strength with the Brit
ish. England then would be in posi-.
tion of the guardian protector Of
Europe and of those small nations
which France swore indirectly to pro-
tect in her political and economic
agreements. France cannot AFFORD to
see Britain take this credit. She
cannot see that influence, she has
builded up since the armistice in the
world war undermined.
Creek Revolt British Aid.
The British position in regard to
the near east and Turkey has been
materially enhanced during the week
. through the Grecian revolution IN
which King Constantine has been
ousted. The Greeks have followed
atural psychological reactions, those
to he expected after Constantine's
vainglcrious boasts Of the restoration
! OF the ancient Byzantine empire.
Constantine builded not upon the
rocks of righteous purpose. but upon
the sands of personal selfsfness and
the Grecian debacle in Anatolia nat
urally was forthcoming.
Be that as it may. Grecian clouds
materially cleared during the week
and through fhem has come the sun
of Grecian cooperation with the Brit
ish in their efforts to stem Moslem
tides and turn them back at the very
gates Of Europe.
With Constantine the British could
not expect to work, in view of the
cerfidious actions of the one-time
Grecian ruler during the world war.
when he covertly wooed and support
ed his brother-inlaw. the kaiser. and
sought to throw his country actively
in support of Germanys nefarious
purposes. But with Greece's grand
old man. Venizelos. back in the har-
ness. or, at least. the guiding light Of
a new Grecian administration. with
the new regime pro-ally in character,
there may come British support In
the reorganiZat tion that is necessary
before the Grecian armies in Thrace
can offer active support In any strug-
gle. But with British support and
Organization and the active support
Of the VenizeIsts Britain's forces
may be considered adequate to care
for any eventualities-
Influence Upon French.
1t may be added that the assurance
of almost immediate British. success
in case of conflict. brought about by
the added support of Greece. may in
. large measure have Influenced the
policy Of Poincare. The French may
be skeptical about Greece's revolt.
suspecting the revolution staged with
the eventual purpose of beguiling the
allies into believing Grecian pur-
poses are in accord with theirs. in
order to stave off territorial loss in
Thrace. but the British will not quar-
rel with their source of support as
long as it is an active one and rea-
sonahly in sympathy. There is no
question that if the Greeks back the
British and aid materially in strength
ening them in any fight with the
Turks little will be heard of Turk
ish Thrace. Greece. mos. or less
backed by the British in their Ana
tolian conflict with the Turks. un-
doubtedly will rule Thrace in the
future.
Much water has flown under the
near eastern bridge within the past
two weeks and much more water
must do likewise before the diplo-
matte and military situation will be
relieved to a point where there are
we'll grounded hopes of eventual
agreement. And, in view Of the .tre-
mendously critical situation confront
! ing all nations. and particularly the
British and the Turks, each minute.
each hour and each day will be
freighted with gloomy portent.