The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-10-03
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
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Washington - The American peo-
pie will be gratified by the official an
nouncement from the White House
that the United States has no inten-
ton of participating in any OF the po-
litical developments in the Near East
and that under no circumstances will
American forces aid in the defense of
the Dardanelles," declared the Repub-
lican Publicity Association. The fact
that President Harding has found it
necessary to reiterate the independ-
ence of the United States from Euro
pean entanglements shows that influ
entail forces are still at work to in
volve America in Old World affairs.
Every new disturbance abroad is the
signal for fresh outbursts on their
part, necessitating renewed declara-
lions from the Republican government
at Washington.
mo situation that has presented it
self in the Old World since the armis-
tice is less worthy Of American inter
and the threat of the Turks to regain
their old capital II this country had
| taken a hand in Old World settle
ments, there might be some founda-
ton for the present urge that we aid
in restoring order in Asia Minor. II
America were responsible for present
conditions there, it might be said with
justice that the United States should
take a hand in bringing about set
Element.
But the fact is that what We find
in the Near East today is simply the
result OF traditional European diplo-
macy seen at its worst. In their pro-
gressive invasion of Turkish territory
the Greeks have had the tacit support
of Great Britain, while the opposition
of Turkey to the Greek inroads has
had similar support from France
Various arrangements have been at
tempted TO satisfy both the British and
French There was created the neu-
trail Zone of the Straits thorwing the
| Turks back into Asia with the loss OF
their capital, Constantinople, which
! they had held for about 40 years
! Thrace was turned over to Greece
with its capital city, Adrianople. which
the Turks had occupied practically
continuously for SEQ years. Greece
was encouraged to occupy a large por-
ton of Asia Minor, still further driv-
ing back the Turks with the loss OF
another of their traditional cities
Smyrna, which they had held for about
500 years.
THE merits of the diplomacy by
which Greece, with the approval OF
Great Britain, extended and increased
her pressure against the Turks, and
Turkey, with the approval of France
increased her resistance to the Greeks
/ is not for the United States to deter
mine. 1t is none of our business, but
every intelligent observer in this
country knew that an explosion in the
: Ne-r East was bound to come if such
tactics were adhered to. Probably the
leading expert on Near Eastern af.
fairs is Gen. Townshend who led the
British expedition up the Tigris in tho
war and was captured by the Turks al
Kut-el-Amara. He says it is foolhardy
to hold Constantinople, that it should
be returned to the Turks at once and
all other Turkish terms of peace ac
cepted.
"As regards the Near East, Europe
ha smade its bed and now can lie in it
Were the United States to inject it.
self into the mess, it would mean moi
only the expenditure of much money
and probably many lives, but 1t would
incur also the certain enmity of either
Great Britain or France, not to men
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