New-York tribune., 1922-09-20
Lloyd George to insist
T'ha, 'frooGs Remain in
Area During Negotia-
tons With the Turks
populace Prefers
Bargain to Warfare
Kemal Assures Paris He
Won't Invade Neutral
Zone if Allies Retire
By Arthur S. Draper

From The TribNnes European Bureau
Copyrisht, 1922, New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Sept. 19.--The settle
nent the British government hopes
to make with the Turkish National
ists is at peace conference and not
en- the field of battle. Maintain the
Allied troops in the neutral zones of
Asia Minor and discuss terms i'm
mediately, is the proposition Lord
Curzon, British Foreign Secretary,
8; csT-':-;':2 to Premier Poincare of
France. A firm declaration that
kemal Pasha must not cross the
straits of the Dardanelles with his
army is regarded as essential b.; the
British Cabinet, which held two long
sessions to-day.
Advices from Paris contain the
information that Kemal has unoffi-
cally notified the French Foreign
Office that he will not attack the
neutral zones if he is assured that
the Allied troops eventually will be
withdrawn, and that he is anxious to
avoid any conflict with England.
Lord Curzon and Admiral Beatty
departed for Paris after the Cabinet
meetings, at which it was evident
that much of the war spirit of
Downing Street had evaporated un-
der the storm of protests against
military action in the Near East
from inside and outside the British
Isles. Nevertheless the government
lssued an official statement that it
was still standing on its warlike an
nouncement Of last Saturday. Later
semi-official comment on the situa-
ton was to the effect that the KEN
allSts could be prevented from cross
ing into Europe by naval forces
alone.
Premier Drops Big Stick
1t was plainly evident this evening
mat Premier Lloyd George has reced-
ed considerably from the position he
look Saturday, when he startled not
only his countrymen but the larger
part Of the CIVILIZED world by permit
ting statement to be issued pictur-
ing the Near East situation as so
grave that every one naturally as
Sumed that war was matter of few
days, if not of hours.
The French decision to withdraw
troops from the Asiatic shores, followed
by similar action on the part of the
Italians, added greatly 10 the embar-
rassment of Lloyd Georges govern
ment, which already was alarmed at
the teal wave of opposition sweeping
over the British Isles. This evenings
official announcement was couched in
clever diplomatic language, but al
tnough an air of severity was main
taihed, 1t is clear that marked re-
treat has been made in the last forty
eight hours.
II iie official circles had any inten-
uoh OF plunging England and the do
MllionS into a new war because of the
smashing victory of the Kemalists in
ASIA Minor and the collapse of British
lolcy In the Near East as practiced
curing the last few years, those plans
ho" nave Oeen practically abandoned.
nd instead Of waving the big stick at the
turkish Nationalist leader the chances
are that he will be invited to sit down
al conference with the Allied states
sn men and strike bargain over the
Straijs and Turkeys position in Eu-
rope.
Prefer Bargain to War
Mustapha Kemai Pasha hasn't many
friends in England, not nearly so many
ss he has in France and Italy, but
saere is no question that the great
majority Of the people prefer bar
gam with him rather than war, With
.ae greatest confidence one may ven-
sure forecast there will be no war
n the immediate future-not even
naval action.
Despite the fact that the government
spoioglsts declare there is no funda-
mental difference btween the French
enc enc English policies in the Near East,
psowmng Street and the Quai d'Orsay
nave failed half a dozen times in the
''S' lour years to find basis for agree
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