New-York tribune., 1922-09-24
Open Straits Essential to
Safeguard World From
Outbreaks and Invasion
From Asia, He Declares
Holds Britain Has
No Selfish Motive
Statement Shows EHec;
of Criticisms; Military
Preparations Continue
BY Arthur S. Draper


Copyright 1922. New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Sept. 23.-Freedom of the
Dardanelles and a determination that
the Turk shall not cross from Asia and
plunge Europe in war, are the cardinal
policies of Great Britain in the Near
East crisis, Premier Lloyd George in
dicatcd to-day.
We are not seeking new
Gibraltar" the premier added. What
we want is that the League of Nations
should guarantee the freedom of the
Dardanelles in the interest of all the
nations. We must prevent this prairie
fire which las devastated Asia Minor
from crossing the narrow seas and
lighting up the dry tinder of the
Balkans"
Lloyd George was speaking before
the newspaper men who had been sum-
moned to Downing Street to hear his
explanation of the British govern
ment's position regarding the Turkish
situation. He declared that England
aimed at conciliation in settling the
Near East problem unless Mustapha
conflict
There was nothing warlke in the
premier's demeanor and it was plain to
observers that he felt the great volume
of criticism leveled at him since his
startling statement of policy week
ago.
Military Activity Continues
Despite the pacific utterances it is
known that the government is taking
no chances with the situation and con-
tinues to mobilize forces to meet any
emergency There was much military
activity to-day
Seated at the Premier's left hand
while he made his speech to the news
paper mcu was Sir Robert Horne.
Maurice Hanker, Winston Spencer
Churchill and Austen Chamberlain also
were present. Chamberlain expressed
his approval Of Lloyd Georges state
ment at the close of the talk.
The Premier's object seemed to be
to meet the frontal attacks made upon
him in this country, while addressing
an audience much further afield, par
ticularly France and Turkey. He had
this to say about the United States
"The original idea was that Amer
lea should undertake mandate for
Armenia; that France should assume a
mandate for Cilicia where there is q
mixed population; that Italy should
undertake q mandate for Adlia and
surrounding territory, and that Greece
should assume that for southeastern
Anatolia and the viayet of Smyrna
For various reasons that has been
found IMPOSSIBLE. America was not
prepared to undertake any responsi-
bility for Armenia and the French gov
ernment did not feel that it could con-
tinue to accept any responsibility for
Cilicia. The Italians withdrew from
southern Anatolia and the Greeks ex-
changed Venizelos for King Constan-
tine"
Fails to Placate Critics
Late this afternoon Lloyd George
went to the country, where he intends
to remain until Monday. The most
captious could not call his declaration
of to-day bellicose, and compared 10
his utterances of a week ago they were
positively mild, but his critics are not
satisfied, and they already have re-
turned to the attack, their chief point
now being that the British still hold
! Chanak. Some of these critics insist
that the Premier has a strong anti
! Turk bias.
1t was announced here tonight that
Lord French, who is on q personal
visit to Constantinople, would meet
Mustapha Kemal tomorrow at Ismid
the railroad junction between Scutari
and Smyrna, and that since he is ac-
companied by British Foreign Office
representative, certain assurances would
be given and asked of the Nationalist
| leader. If Kemal should grant such
/ assurances, British withdrawal from
from Chanak might be arranged with
out great difficulty. There is authority
| for the statement that Great Britain
and France have reached the basis for
an agreement regarding the return of
, Thrace to the Turks, but that Is mat
Continued on next paae)