Evening star., 1922-09-17
FRANCE IS BLAMED .
FOR AIDING: G TURKS |
British Writer Declares She
Has Opposed England's
Peace Moves.
FEARS kEMALlsT POWER
Sees Franco Hoslem Pact as Posi-
bic in Near East I'm
broglio.
FEARS kEMALlsT POWER
BY A. G. GARDINER.

BY Cable to The Star.
LONDON. September 16.-The events
OF the Europea, drama shift with the
suddenness Of the scenes of a film
play. But, however they shift, they
turn upon the relations between Eng
land and France. Wherever one looks,
20 Russia, to Germany, to the Bal
kans, he finds the two countries op-
posed. For the moment Germany is
out Of the picture. The Greek catas-
trophe in Asia Minor has revealed the
Undoubtedly Lloyd Georges thought
less words encouraged the Greeks to
suppose Great Britain would support
them. On the other hand. France has
assumed the German role Of the friend
OF the Turk. Kemal's triumph Is no.
toriously due to a large supply of
French war materials, and the as
ton1Shfng outburst of French enthu
siasm over the affair was an. undis-
guised demonstration of anti-English
feeling.
What follows? The Turks, flushed
with victory and experts at the old
game of playing off one Christian ma
tion against another. aim at closing
the Dardanelles. This was the only
Sevres. The straits only can be kept
open through the united action Of
England and France. If French popu-
lar passion against England prevails.
and France leaves the Turk a free
hand, a grave situation involving
Mesopotamia and India confronts
!, England.
A Turkish revival also ultimately
threatens French interests In Syria
and elsewhere. but in the present in
1FoNyV ~
every music hall rings with the gross
est insults. Englands position is full
of peril. AL best the gravity Of the
Turkish situation puts powerful cards
In the hands of France. She can say:
DO this or we leave the Turks a free
hand"
The League Issue.
In the circumstances the visit Of
Lloyd George to the assembly of the
league OF nations assumes increased
Importance. 1t will be the first time
the executive head of a great state
acknowledged the authority Of the
assembly by his presence. 1t is most
significant because Of the comment on
the dissolution of the supreme coun-
Gil 1t can transfer its power to the
league. But can the transfer be made
in the present attitude of France?
The league attitude and the mill
taristic position Of France hardly can
be reconciled. The situation is re-
called by the remark Of Gen. Smuts
to me prior to my interview with
President Wilson during the peace
Tell the President" he said, the
establishment of the league depends
upon America. England cannot carry
the project alone in the face of hos
isolation, England also will be driven
to such policy. and the continent
will be left to drift to shipw reck."
Efforts to have the league live with-
out America continues. But while
the league excludes great powers it
IS doomed to be largely an academic
body. Its existence depends on ex-
control. The fate Of the league is
with France The attitude of her
representatives at Geneva Is not un-
hopeful. but it is useless to ignore
the fact that the main current Of the
French opinion is one Of negation to
the aims of the combination.
Lloyd Georges Position.
Will Lloyd Georges Intervention
help or hinder? Once the most popu-
lar person in France. today he is the
most reviled. In mailing his colors
to the league mast he issues an in
vitation which may be a challenge.
1t may make or break the league.
He realizes the enormous disaster
that has followed the policies of the
last four years and is anxious to re-
verse the engine. But is he the man
for the task?
Unfortunately, he is so discredited
by events that / fear he is unequal
to carrying through so vast an op-
GRAFTON. Europe wants new men to
salvage the wreck the old men have
made. She wants new men with new
ideas and a new spirit. But where
will we look for such leadership?
War and peace has destroyed every
reputation. Europe seems a voice
less bankrupt of statesmanship, a
derelict without captain.
Only today is 1t being realized what
an enormous disaster the murder of
the French socialist Jaures in 1914
inflicted in Europe. That tragedy is
comparable with the staying of
Michael Collins in Ireland, where no
commanding figure is left. The meet
ng Of the dali brought out strongly
he deficiency. If parliamentary gov
ernment and the treaty are to sur
vive in Ireland the rebel movement
must be vigorously suppressed.
While De Valera Is free and issues his
ultimatums anarchy will continue.
which will bring ruin to Ireland and
disaster to the Free State.
Copyright. 1929