Evening star., 1922-09-24

nj August, 1914. have the Brit
ish peoples and government
been confronted with such
grave issues as today are made mani
fest by the drift Of the tides in. the
near east. -.
Upon the British government rests the
burden of sustaining British prestige.
not only throughout Europe, but in
the Mohammedan regions of Asia.
Upon decisions that have been
reached in the past week. and upon
ing ten days, rests the question as to
whether France shall be the greatest
of all political powers in two con-
tinents or whether the British shall
first be turned to as the hub of politi-
cal movements of whatsoever char
acter.
Forced to Stand Firm.
The cards at the moment rest with
France. Britain has others to play
With the issues as grave as they are
there is every reason to believe that
instead of Great Britain weakening
her course she will stand firmly for
the things which she believes in and
which she holds imperative to the sal
vation of Europe. One of her prin-
ciple theories Is that Turkey should
not again be given foothold in Eu-
rope-at least. Turkey should no, be
permitted to control the deStinies OF
millions of peoples through unscrupu-
lous domination of the Dardanelles
and the BoSporus. Britain insists
,t&.,s ~ -.
waterways shall ever remain in hands
that have proven trustworthy.
With Turkish control, the British
see eventual French influence, a fact
that will not in anywise increase the
friendliness between the two nations
and fact that will absolutely in
sure French domination. not only over
the entirety of eastern Europe, but a
vast section of Asia.
French influence in Turkey easily
might be directed against British
power in the Mohammedan regions
of Asia in case there ever should be
differences between the two. Further
more. the British. instead of fostering
and, in large measure. moldi g
allied opinion, would be under the
thumb of the French in all things
the threat of implied Mohammedan
upriSings bet2S even an outstanding
one, though perhaps not spoken.
France Would Realize Dreams.
Turkish control of the Dardanelles
and the straits. as stated. means
realization of practically all of the
dreams of the officials sitting in the
Quai d Orsay in Paris. French politi-
cal dominance would have reached the
greatest heights in history.
The smaller powers of Europe
would not dare pursue courses other
than completely subservient to the
French viewpoint. BY virtue of con-
troll of the smaller nations the larger
ones would hesitate against resisting
Francophile advances In any direction
flying as they would. in the face OF
the balance of power. not only In
Europe, but vast sections OF Asia.
Great Britain would he placed in the
position Of a supplicant. in major
world questions while the French In
Paris chuckle and did as they pleased.
With show of courage and strength
the British may be able to maintain
their present high position. Main
fcnance means continuance of British
domination in regions most desired
jim Asia, and in European political
arenas. Smaller nations of Europe
would be less liable to flout British
desires in the face of demonstrated
power. There might even be a
See Collapse Of Plans.
Britain may be forced to capitulate
before the whole near eastern
problem is unraveled. but in capitula-
tion. Lloyd George and his cabinet
advisers see nothing but complete
collapse of all plans designed to sus-
tain, not only British influence, but
many OF those principles for which
millions of allied soldiers fought and
died in the world war. Sentimentality
is intermixed with practical politics.
That Britian always has been
nationalistic to the exclusion OF world
interest is not a charge that can be
directed against her, as in the case OF
some of her former allies.
Be that as 1t may, the situation fac
ing the British is extremely perilous
and gravest danger lies not only in
tho region of the Dardanelles, where
the Turkish armies are facing the
neutral zones. True. there must be
ure. Britain yet must confront the
Turkish Vaccinations in regions as
perilous to here dominance.
Already the Turks have dispatched
isolated detachments against British
forces in the Irak regions Of Mesopo-
tamla, IN oiio lAS hoihS1
of revolution have even influenced
Emir Feisal, King of the Irak. who
gained his seat by virtue Of British
prestige.
Enemies Now Are Active.
Everywhere enemies of Britain are
availing themselves Of the Turkish
success as propaganda against con-
tinued British control of Mohamme-
dan regions, particularly Mesopota-
mia and Palestine. Insidious agita-
ton. has permeated the whole of
lndis. That the task of the British
is infinitely difficult is demonstrated
by the fact that many of the British
forces operating in the Mesopotamian
regions have shown disaffection in the
facesof Turkish and Kurdish attacks
Britain. naturally is compelled to rely
upon' a large portion of native troops