The Washington times., 1922-09-28
BRITAIN PLANS
To USE KEMAL
T0HOLDSTRA|TS
Now Seeks to Effect Arrange
ment Which Will Insure
Near East Power.

Why has Great Britain consent
ed to restoration Of Eastern
Thrace to Turkey? What do pres
ent International moves as regards
the Dardanelles mean? The foll0lO-
ina article, the second Of series
of three, and based on information
obtained from the United States
intelligence service, gives a broad
background to full understand
ing TO present International de-
relopments.
BY ROBERT S. THORNBURGH,
Cosmopolitan News Service.
Greece was particularly adapt
ed to the mission of controlling
Asia Minor and thus assuring
England's predominance Of the
Near East, which Great Britain
had selected her to exesute, &c
cording to reports made to the
United States Intelligence Service.
Largely a country of islands,
Greece's control over large por-
ton of her territories was de-
pendent r.,on the good will of the
sea power. Not being a self-con-
tanned country agriculturally, she
was also dependent upon the sea
power for the continuity of her
food supply. She could, there
fore, be relied upon to do Great
Britain's bidding under all condi-
tions.
Turkey Different.
Turkey, in control of the straits.
would be a totally different propo'
sition. For in this situation, Tur'
key would have no exposed sea line
of communication; she Is moreover.
self-contained in respect TO FOOD
supply. For this reason. Turkey
! has in the past been dependent on
! the predominant land power, rather
than upon the sea power.
! Controlling the straits through
her fleet, her own land forces and
| those OF the Greeks, Great Britain
was in a position where she not
| only interposed an effectual barrier
to any expansion OF the land power
on the continent into Asia Minor
| along the lines of the Pan-German
government. but the future OF Rus
sia, dependent upon an outlet from
| the Black Sea, was largely under
her control.
The interests OF Great Britain in
the oil fields OF the Caucasus. more
| over, made II OF vital Importance TO
her to keep open her line OF commu-
! nications through the straits and
the Black Sea. The British hold on
: the straits was secure so long as
| tho Crack lines held.
The dissolution of the Greek forces
! has, however, completely altered the
situation. The support which the
Greeks afforded must be sought else.
where.
Shifts to Turkey.
| For this reason Great Britain Is
now seeking to effect an arrange.
| ment under which Turkey will In
part take over the role heretofore
| carried out by Greece. under such
| conditions as to insure Turkish de-
! pendence on British power, reports
here indicate.
These conditions can be created
by restoring to Turkey Thrace and
! Consta ntinople and retaining CALI
! poll under British control. Since,
! in that situation, Turkey would be
dependent on the British fleet for
continued tenure OF her European
! territory. she would thenceforth be
! obliged to play the British role in
the Near East.
! Great Britain has endeavored 10
make certain her hold on the straits
by the dispatch OF every available
| troop unit to the critical areas--Gal-
lipoli, Chanak and the Ismid PENN.
| sula.
1t is very probable that when all
| the smoke created by the present
crisis clears away, British troops
may be found securely entrenched in
a new Gibraltar Of the East.
The possibility of such an eventu.
| atty is causing the French consid.
erable concern: their withdrawal of
their own troops from the danger Of
/ all hostile contact with the Turks
has left them in a position where
| they may he left without power to
! exercise any influence over the con.
/ troll of the straits.
| If as the outcome of a peace set
/ tlement, Constantinople and Thrace
should be returned to the Turk while
| Great Britain retains control of Gal
Iipoli, French influence in the Near
East would suffer a serious diminu.
ton.
Great Britain has sought to create
the impression that Europe stood
upon the verge of another world
A feeling of alarm in America as
| to the security az the European debts
war.
might have brought American inter.
vention in the European situation
Britain hoped.
There seems to be little doubt in
the British mind that due to her
economic interests Americas inter.