Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-09-21
BRITAIN READY
TO FIGHT ALONE
Determined to Protect Freedom
Of DaTdaneI|eS.
REAFFIRM NEAR EAST POLICY
Cabinet Announces Military Action
VIII Be Taken Without Support Of
France and Italy.

London. The British cabinet
takes the attitude Great Britain
will undertake military action alone,
IL necessary, independent Of France
and Italy, to protect the freedom Of
the Dardanelles. This was authori-
tatkely stated after protracted cabi-
net meeting
An official communique issued from
Downing street later declares in sub
stance the government stands by it's
announcement of policy issued to the
press Saturday, Notwithstanding news
paper reports TO the contrary.
On its announcement on Saturday,
the cabinet stated under no condi-
lions would the Kemalist army be
permitted to cross from Asia into Eu-
rope and that Great Britain was pre-
pared to fight to maintain the freedom
of the Dardanelles)
All the meeting Of the cabinet Lord
Curzon, the secretary for foreign aft
fairs, received final instructions with
reference to his coming conference
with Premier Poincare. The report
the French would withdraw from the
Asiatic neutral zone was not taken as
raising serious issue, since the
French never had many troops there
and the district is In the hands of
the British through an arrangement
with the French.
The possibility the allies might con-
slider the return Of part of Thrace
to the Turks became matter Of spec
ulation as the result Of inquiries by
newspaper men.
The following was given out semi
officially:
"The ministers have confirmed their
decision that In no case will Kemalist
troops be allowed to cross into Europe
until peace terms are established"
The press says:
"The inflexible determination Of the
British government that Kemalist
troops shall not be permitted to cross
the Straits, clearly applies only to the
existing situation, and that this is the
attitude taken up pending the settle
ment of terms Of peace and without
prejudice to that settlement"
The refugee problem at Smyrna oc-
cupied much Of the cabinets time. The
question of how the thousands Of
homeless and hungry people can be
removed Is admittedly large one.
Plenty of Greek ships are available
for their transportation, but the Ke-
malist authorities will not allow these
ships to dock. 1t Is believed arrange
ments can be made with the National
lists through the Near East relief or
ganization OF the American Red Cross
to permit these ships to land.
There Is no diminution OF the ex-
element which the governments de-
claration Of " policy of force awaken
ed ON Saturday, and the matter con-
tinues to be a subject Of hot discus
sion.
The defense put forward by the gov
ernment's advocates is that, far from
seeking war, 1t is doing its utmost to
prevent one, and to this end it is
necessary to impress Muetapha Renal
Pasha with the fact Great Britain will
not allow him to march on Constantine
ople, enter Europe, overrun Thrace
and probably set the Balkans ablaze.
Meanwhile the activities Of Musta-
pha Renal Pasha are shrouded in
mystery. A Constantinople despatch
to the Times reports one Of his caval-
ny patrols reached, but did not cross,
the boundary of the neutral zone, and
there is an unconfirmed report that he
is making, or preparing to move, his
army northward.
The British preparations for this
contingency, foresfladowed by the gov
erhment's declaration, continue and
orders are said to have been sued
to certain forces TO prepare for active
service, their officers and men on leave
being summoned back to quarters.