Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-05
THE OF THE
NARROW SEAS

THE narrow straits of the OAR
1 danelles leads from the Medi-
terranean sea into the Sea of Mar
mora. The Bosphorus strait leads
from the Sea of Marmora into the
Black sea. Constantinople lies on
the south side of the Bosphorus
mostly. The D~ardanelles, the Sea
of Marmora and the Bosphorus
strait are generally known collect
lively as the Narrow seas. All the
nations of Europe agree that the
Narrow seas should be free to the
commerce of the world. But they
have very different notions of
what is meant by the term Free
dom of the Narrow seas" Russia
a these seas free to CONNER
cial and trading vessels but closed
to war vessels. Great Britain
a them open to war vessels
and guarded by allied troops and
forts so that they cannot be closed
against her naval power at any
time. To secure that end she
a a broad neutral zone estab-
lished on both sides of the Narrow
seas occupied by international
forces in which her own troops
would be literally represented.
Turkey wants to &c guardian OF the
Narrow seas herself with power to
close them at her will in event OF
war. France wants pretty nearly
ANYTHING that Great Britain does
not want. Greece wants the job OF
guarding the Narrow seas for Eu-
rome itself. Italy wants Jugo-
Slavia kept out of the. deal as much
as possible. The powers bordering
on the Black sea, including Tur-
KEY think the problem is n that
concerns them mainly as the Mar
row seas are their only highway
through warm waters to the out
side world. The conference nov
going on between the Turkish ma
tionalists and the chief allied ma
items may settle the question tenn
porarily but it is evident that such
settlement will require the assent
of many nations not represented at
that conference before it can be
said to be permanently settled. The
United States has itself consider
able interest in the question OF the
freedom of the Narrow esas
though we are taking no part IN
this conference of the nations.
The pressure at Washington TOT
participation of this country in the
settlement of European affairs
particularly in an economic set
Element, grows stronger all the
time. but it is not to be forgotten
that the economic situation is pro
foundly influenced by the political
situation. The two are so mixec
that they can hardly be separated
Congressman Britain, who repre-
sents a German-American constitu
ency in Chicago, and who, like
most citizens of German extrac'
ton, was strongly anti-Wilson anc
against the League of Nations, {
few weeks z introduced this res
olution into congress:
"And whereas, further delay may
see another war brought upon east
ern Europe which if prevented
would save not only Europe but thu
world untold agony and suffering
and
Whereas, the time now appear
to be %propitious for a reconsidera
ton of the treaty of Versailles ant
the reparations question and it /
apparent that the government o
the United States should not hol'
itself aloof until called upon b.
European governments, therefore
be it
Resolved, that in the interest o
the worlds peace and industry, tn
president of the United States b
and he hereby is requested to TAX
such steps as he deems wise an
pertinent toward bringing abou
the re-establishment of politica
and industrial peace in Europe"
While the resolution is some
what vague in respect to what it
author wants the president to DE-
yet a few years ago we are salts
fled that Congressman Brittai
would v have introduced sue
a resolution and would have OF
posed it if it had been introduce
by any other congressman. ]
marks the drift of sentiment in tn
last few years. Ex-Congressma
Bartholdt of St. Louis another RET
opnized Spokesman for Germa