Evening journal., 1922-09-23
ENGLAND Hopes
FOR PEACE in
THE NEAR EAST
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antagonists races msddened by the
rooted grievances apd we will AGAR
have war in Europe. II must not be
forgotten that the last war started
in the Balkans"
The British. he said. will exert
every effort TO bring about perma-
nent peace-but the Turks must
confine their hostiiitles with Greece
strictly TO Asia Minor and they must
not be permitted TO close the Oar
danelles.
IL the Turks get into the Darda-
nelles,- Lloyd George said a repeti-
ton OF the horrors OF Smyrna Is 10
be feared.
ANY action which Britain has
taken does not concern the merits
or dement's OF the dispute between
Turkey and Greece. which is 10 be
settled at a conference OF the Allies
and the belllgerents. the Premier
said
"Britain's action is dictated by
two supreme considerations" Lloyd
George stated. the first being anxiety
regarding the freedom OF the seas
between the Mediterranean and the
Black Sea. Closing OF the straits
during the gar by a power. Turkey,
which owed more to Britain and
France than any other powers Of the
world, was an act OF perfldy which
cost US dearly. was directly respon-
slble for the collapse OF our power
full ally-Russia; was responsible
for Rumanla's defeat and prolonged
the war two years.
ut is an essential condition OF the
worlds peace in the future that the
freedom OF the straits be guaranteed
effectively. II peace had been sign
ed without the achievement OF this
object Il would have been equivalSt
TO defeat in that part OF the world.
Therefore, he pointed out, the
Allies made the freedom OF the
straits condition OF the 1919 arm
istice with the Turks Insisting an
Allied occupation Of the Bosphorus
and the Dardanelles.
To-day we have not departed from
this policy" the Premier continued
"our great object IL 10 prevent this
Intentionally horrible war from
spreading into Europe"
He refused TO apportion the blame
between the Turks and Greeks say
ing he preferred TO deal with facts.
He then pointed out that smyrna
one OF the worlds greatest CONNER
cial cities. had been the scene OF UNI
precedented massscres.
IF the Turkish army cannot be
restrained from perpetrating out
RACES and II It Is permitted 10 cross
into Europe and occupy CONSTANT
NOBLE. where there are hundreds OF
thousands OF Armenians and Greeks,
and also thousands OF Europeans we
have every reason 10 fear a repeti-
ton OF those terrible Incidents he
said.
Lloyd George emphasized the Inn
partiality OF the British action re-
garding Turkey and Greece and
pointed out that Sir Charles Har-
rngton, commandments OF the
British forces in the Dardanelles had
sent the same proclamation to Mus
tapha Renal as he sent to the
Greeks.
The British occupation OF Chanak
was defended on the grounds that II
was necessary for the freedom Of the
straits. II unoccupied, the Premier
stated, only armed ships would be
able to utilize the straits.
I'VE do not wish TO hold Chanak
and Galllpoli in the interests OF the
British empire" Lloyd George stated.
I've do not claim that Great Bril-
tain alone should have been the sole
OF controlling the area.
"Contrarily we believe that these
important shores should be held un-
der the League OF Nations in the in
terests OF all nations alike"
The Premier stated the Rumanians
believed that the freedom of the
straits was a matter OF life and
death for them. The same applied
10 Russia, he said.
Lloyd George excoriated the Turk
ish record during the war.
The Turks in Asia Minor were /
responsible in 1914 and the early /
months Of 1915 for the deaths OF
half million Christians without pro-
vocation and purely in wanton cold
biooded massacres." he said.
In 1918. the Premier stated the
Allies felt that they were under OBJ
legations TO prevent a recurrence OF
the massacres and therefore south
eastern Anatolia was inundated 20
Greece.
When Lloyd George concluded his
TO the press. he turned TO
Austen Chamberlain and asked II |
any essential point had been
omitted.
mo" replied Chamberlain, your
statement was very good indeed
With the issue before them
peace or war. Britain's cabinet min
Isters met with Lloyd George at his
torlc No. 10 Downing street today 10
decide whether the Turks shall be
permitted TO re-enter Europe. The
ministers first took up an important
from Foreign Minister
-urzon. Britains representative at
he Allied conference in Paris in
which the tentative terms agreed 10