The Washington times., 1922-10-29

| SWdlGS.
discontsnt might be the Inevitable
price Of q policy which laid better
foundations for the peace of
further Europe and hither Asia.
But what our Government has
done 10 to inflame Islam without
assuaging the lot to Christendom.
Il has aroused Turkish contempt
for an impotsnt enrnity and
Greek resentment for Q fruitless
frisndship. And II has deepened
the jeopardy Of svsry cause In the
Near Dast which invests Us with
. concern In its fortunes.
II 10 best TO strip our failure Of
all disguisss and consider In tn,
most practical spirit how We can
now make the best Of bad. We
shall DO wen to borrow some Of
that realistic perception in which
ws may frankly recognise that
the French government has been
our superior. and hope that It win
assist . reader approximation In
that united policy which alone
can avert still direr consequence.
The situation which u created by
the scimitar knocking once more
upon the door Of Europe 10 one
that should submsrgs every minor
cause Of misunderstanding be-
tween the two Western Powers.
II II vital TO both that they should
act with one accord at . juncture
when any one Of q dozen dtscord.
ant impulses n capable Of bring.
Ing . precarious peace to naught.
WOULD EVOKE CONTEST.
We can speak with the more
fran1rnsss OF what We have our
selves st stake In such agreement.
because there can bs few eyes to
which Il II not palpabls. To be
left opposing our solitary veto to
Turkish demands Of any kind would
be 70 evoke . contest covering not
the dsbAtable lands alone but every
corner Of our possessions that y
penetrabis TO Pan.1slamic arms or
propaganda. Il would recouble
our liabilities Immediately In Meso.
potamia: It would accentuate every
strain and friction with which we
have to cope in Mohammedan In.
dia. But II would only be at one
remove that France herseslf would
stand immune from similar menace
In the event Of allied disunion.
Fanaticism knows neither bonds
nor benefits.
II the legend should receive war
rant that Ottoman diplomacy
could once more divide and defy
the West. It would set nerves
tinsiing in every empire that has
Mohanamedan subjects. and those
who have recovered Smyrna would
not b the more reconcilsd to
Syria's remaining lost. We hope
that the ciearness Of practical val.
p.fion and precision Of policy by
which France has distinguished
herself In these affairs up till the
present win guide her to a true
judgment OF essentials In the phase
upon which they have now entered.
For ourselves, We believe that both
Of the allies are vitality concerned
in q firm insistence not only upon
the formal but the genuine freedom
Of the Straits and In . revision Of
the Thracian question with the
fullest regard to every solid inter
est involved.
30 oar a. the news from both
Western capitals can guide us, the
French Government IL agreed with
us In upholdins the freedom Of the
Straits, with the sole reservation
that the legitimate aspirations OF
Turkey shall be safeguarded."
That is q formula from which
British policy need not withhold
subscription, and We trust that, as
negotiations proceed. its practical
Interpretation will not arouse
fundamental differences. II the
common interest II to prevail a
spirit Of concession upon both sides
will Be necessary. and 1t goes with
out saying that in the plight in
which Great Britain has been
landed by her Ministers, some of
the compromises entailed may
show but scant respect for her
predictions. ". -.
A MORAL BEARING.
One consideration may have par.
ticular weight with France, and
that is the reflection that what.
ever occurs in the Near East must
have its moral bearing upon other
portions Of the postwar settle
ment to which she may attach
greater importance. II one OF the
Powers defeated by the Entente
were to overturn the results of that
defeat and calmly to set aside the