Evening star., 1922-09-03
GREEKS AND TURKS PULL
CHESTNUTS FROM FIRE
Pawns for England and France in
.Near-East Embroglio-Allies in
Ignominous Position.

agreement with Mustapha Kemal.
whose forces have swept the Greeks
back in An8tolia- In fact, Lloyd
George limited In the house of COM
mons but recently that the Turkish
armies have been reorganized. not to
speak of being re-equipped, through
the instrumeutality of the French.
Position Of England.
Lloyd George has insisted that
there be fair play as between the
Greeks and the Turks, that minori-
ties of the near east be protected
against the barbarities Of the Mos
lem populations. barbarities which
originated under the old Sultan Of
Turkey, who declared that Turkish
integrity must be made safe by the
expulsion or massacre of non-Mos-
lem peoples. The British have not
forgotten the perfidies of the Turks.
Though. undoubtedly. the spirit Of
humanitarianism has been one fac
tor involved in the British position. it
cling to the idea of an open Darda-
nelles. Should the Greeks control ap-
proaches to Constantinople. WHICH
city would remain oStensibly under
allied control. the British would
keep under their control the third
e,
the others being the straits at Gi-
bralter and the Suez canal. With
control of the Dardanelles, through
the friendship and aid of Grecian
forces. the British would be in better
position to protect and advance their
interests in Asiatic countries.
Shift to the Turks.
With new realm of influence pos
sible through the medium of Musta-
pah Kemal, and with dreams of ex-
growing apace in Quai d'Orsay. the
French have seen fit to sympathize
with the Turks. and even aid them.
The French are not as quick to for
give as the British, and it is a no.
ticeable thing that the shift in French
against the decisions of the allied
mandate commissions, of which they
themselves were part. was due
largely to the return to the throne
of King Constantine, who is declared
the allies in the world war. At
least. French did not approach Musta-
pah kemal and the Turks with prom
ises OF cooperative agreements un-
til after the Greeks had reseated
Constantine. The French believe the
not to be any more trusted than
they were when Constantine played
into the hands of-Germany.
Re that as il may, the situation has
resolved itself into tug-of-war be-
tween Franco-Turk and Anglo Greco
interests.
The Greeks and the Turks have 1t
within their power to bring about a
decision. and should the tides Of war
flow directly in favor Of one or other
there will be increasing friction be-
tween France and Great Britain.
1t has been decided to settle near
eastern questions at a conference at
Venice. France and England have not
yet agreed as to the form of the con-
ference and 1t has been held in abey-
ance. While the allies have been ne
gotiating, partly to cover their own
ineficiency in adjusting the near
eastern questions and partly to gain
individual ends through agreements
as to future action. the Turks have
taken matters into their own hands
and are furnishing the Greeks severe
ly in all sections Of Anatolia. Their
most recent exploit has been the
wrestling of needed railroads and lines
of communication from the Greeks.
The Greeks outnumber the Turks and
there is some possibility of regaining
some of their previous advantage. 1t
is generally believed, however, in well
informed circles that the Turks. as
result of their victories. will have still
more to demand of the allies, and the
weight of all adjustment agreements
will be on their side when they go
into the Venice parley. there to seek
permanent and desired settlements OF
the whole near eastern situation.
Forced in Bad Position.
In resisting the treaty of Sevres
the Turks gained much for them
selves. The allies, by their own de-
yising, are forced in the ignominious
position of treating with a defeated
enemy and of practically relegating
all the clauses of the Sevres treaty.
1t must be agreed that had the allies
not sought selfish ends and pursued a
course until there would be- no Turkish
question today and little need OF fur
ther negotiations. The Turks ever |
have pursued the policy that to wait ;
is to win. Most certainly will they
be less liable to submit to dictation.
On the battlefields of Anatolia to-
day and in the councils of Venice
later will be determined definitely
who is to control the near east, and
thereby add materially to the politi-
cal and economic strength Of the pre-
dominent alignment to be formed In
Europe through slow but sure return
to the old groupings designed to Gre
ate the balance Of power.