Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-30
A GRATIFYING
announcement

Washington, Sept. 20. 1.-The
American people will be gratified by
the official announcement from the
White House that the United States
mas no intention of participating in
any of the political developments in
the Near East. and that under no
circumstances will American forces
aid in the defense of the Dardan-
Giles" declares the Republican Pub
licity Association, through it's presi-
dent, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr. 1.-THE
TACT that President Harding has
found it necessary to reiterate the
independence of the United States
from European entanglements shows
that influential forces are still at
work to involve America in Old
World affairs. Every new disturb
ance abroad is the signal for fresh
outbursts on their part. necessitating
renewed declarations from the Re-
publican government at Washington
NO situation that has presented
itself in the Old World since the
almistice is less worthy of American
interference than the defeat Of the
Greeks and the threat of tho Turks
to regain their old capital. II this
country had taken hand in Old
World settlements, there might be
some foundation for the present urge
that we aid in restoring order in
Asia Minor. If America were re-
spOnsible for present conditions
there, it might be said with justice
that the United States should take
a hand in bringing about q settle
ment.
But the fact is, that what we find
in the Near East today is simply the
result Of traditional European di-
plomacy seen at it's worst. In their
progressive invasion of Turkish ter
ritory 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 attempted to satisfy both the
British and French. There was Gre
ated the neutral Zone of the
Straits throwing the Turks back
into Asia with the loss of their capt.
tai. Constantinople, which they had
y L
was turned over to Greece with its
capital city, Adrianople. which the
Turks had occupied practically con-
tinuously for $50 years. Greece was
encouraged. to occupy 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 in
creased her pressure against the
Turks, and Turkey, with the approv-
al of France, increased her rests
lance to the Greeks, is not for the
United States to determine. 1t is
zone Of our business, but every in
telligent observer in this country
knew that an explosion in the Near
East was bound to come if such tao
tics were adhered to. Probably the
leading expert on Near Eastern af-
fairs is Gen. Townshend who led the
British expedition up the Tisris in
the war and was captured by the
Turks at Kut-e -Amara. He says
it is foolhardy to hold CONSTANT
nople, that it should be returned to
the Turks at once and all the other
Turkish terms of peace accepted.
LAS regards the Near East, Europe
has made it's bed and now can lie
it, it. Were the United States to in
ject itself into the mess it would
mean not only the expenditure of
much money and probably many
lives. but it would incur also the
certain enmity of either Great Brit
ain or France, not to mention Greece
and Turkey. depending upon which
side the Americans espoused We
are at peace with the world just
now, and every intelligent American
wants to remain so. Fortunately we
have a President and Secretary OF
State at Washington who keep their.
heads level at such times. Their
acts are guided by a concern for
American welfare rather than in
spired by the emotional appeals Of