New-York tribune., 1922-10-02
Cabinet Still Discussing
Turkish Reply to Pro-
posals, but Is Expected
to Agree to Conference
Harrington Likely To
Be British Delegate
Situation Complicated by
Necessity of Upholding
Prestige With Moslems
BY Arthur s. Draper

Copyright. 1922. New York Tribune Ino
LONDON, Oct. latter two Cabi-
net councils to-day at which considera-
tion was given to the proposal by
Mustapha Kemal that preliminary con-
ferences be held on Tuesday at Mu-
dania, on the Asia Minor coast, it was
intimated that the situation was re-
garded as distinctly easier. AS the
French and Italians already have ac-
cepted Kemal's proposal, the British
were compelled to fall in line or to
adopt a position which might easily
peaceful settlement.
General Harrington will sit as the
British representative while General
Charpy and General Mombelli will act
for France and Italy respectively.
Kemal is in a position to lose moth
ing but rather to strengthen the ad-
vantages no has already won.
Danger Point Eliminated
Another event which helped to dis
sipate the war clouds was the decision
of the Turks to leave the question of
evacuation Of the whole neutral zone
70 the conference on Tuesday. Veni-
zelos, the former Greek Premier, called
this afternoon and made an appoint
ment to see Lord Curzon tomorrow as
the representative Of the new Greek
government.
In addition to the "Big Six" who at
tended the previous meetings of the
Cabinet, there we're present to-day Adj
W Lob
mara, General Trencnard, chief Of the
air staff, and General Cavan, chief OF
the imperial general staff. A morning
session lasting two hours was followed
by one Of similar duration in the after
noon. When the afternoon session ad-
journed it was understood that still an
other would be held tonight.
To understand the position Of the
British government it is necessary to
take into consideration the question of
it's prestige and responsibilities in the
Mahometan world These questions are
of far greater Importance than those
debacle. They are even more impor-
tant than the freedom of the Straits,
which really is international rather
than purely British.
British Prestige Waning
IL ALioyl 0cOIBe LdQ QeilDeTdCGIY set
about to concoct a plot to embarrass
his government he could not have sue
ceeded quite SO we'll as the fates ar
ranged it. The British prestige has
fallen greatly in the Mahometan
world recently, it's decline dating back
to the signing Of the Treaty of Sevres.
The British rule in the past was sue
cessful because it was based on fair
ness coupled with firmness. To-day the
sympathy of the Mahometans is nat
urally with Kemal, and obviously Lloyd
George would have been in much hap
pier position if he had followed the
French policy and leaned toward the
Kemalists rather than backing the
Greeks in their campaign to overthrow
the Angora government
The apparent error of judgment on
the part Of the British Premier has
brought condemnation on every side
and his critics see no possible chance
of his emerging from his present diff
fculties unless he shows firmness even
at the eleventh hour. The masses .of
the people are more interested in
peace and reduced taxation than in the
prestige of Great Britain in the Ma
hometan world. They have no hatred
against the Turks. A war in the Bal
kans does not excite their apprehen-
SlouS pLoVAucu LASy dfe hept oue u 1t'
Appeals to Public Futile
Following its sensational appeal to
the dominlons for support in the inn
pending Near East war the government
has tried many ways to retreat from
it's position. The fact that the posi-
tion of Kemal has been described as
arrogant has excited no great amount
of resentment nor has it stirred the
ardor of the masses for fight.
There are other angles that make the
position of the government more diff
cutthe Anglo-French relations and
the new position of the Russians taken
since the success Of the Turks. The
French Premier has been successful in
gaining the approval Of the people at
home, while Lloyd George invariably
has been on the unpopular side. In
short, the British government is now
on the defensive and compelled to play
{contlnued on next pass)