Evening star., 1922-09-30
DOOR TO PEACE CLOSING.
Allied Military Circles in Con-
stantinople Expect War.

BY the Associated Press
LONDON, September 30.-The grave
ly Respondent view held in official
quarters regarding the prospect OF
avoiding war with the Turks is
shared in allied military circles in
Constantinople, according to dis
patches from the eastern capital to
the Associated Press.
Mustapha Kemal Pasha's require
ment that the British withdraw their
troops from Asia Minor as condi-
ton precedent to a limited retreat of
the Ottoman forces from the neutral
zone Of the straits Is looked upon by
local military opinion as closing the
door to pacific settlement OF the pres
ent dispute.
Whether this is the final view of
the responsible military heads does
not appear. Huge responsibility rests
with the latter and their political
colleagues. How and when the at
tempt to enforce the governments de-
,nand for the withdrawal of the
Kemalists is to be made now lies with
Brig. Gen. Sir Charles Harrington and
Vice Admiral Sir Osmond Brock,
and naval forces In the near east.
and Sir Horace Rumbold. British high
commissioner in Constantinople. Their
decision is awaited with profound
suspense.
British Public Opposes War.
/ II war breaks-and at the moment it
. needed to avert it-Great Britain will
\enter it under discouraging auspices, for
the preponderance of opinion in the ila-
titcp is not behind the government.
1e. is impossible, of course. to say that
the nation will not rally to the govern
,nent3 support if fighting begins. but
at present the voice Of the people, as
represented by the press, Is raised in
contemplation Of the manner in which
the whole near eastern situation has
been managed.
PriYhe Minister Lloyd George, who
but yesterday was a national hero, now
is the butt Of violent criticism. accused
of having meddled with International
politics, which he does not understand,
and of having brought tho nation face
70 face with another war the duration
and extent Of which cannot be foreseen,
and all for the purpose Of saving the
faces of himself and his colleagues.
Lloyd George IL Target.
Some of the comments are quite
vicious In tone; others credit the
premier with good intentions, but,
nevertheless. roundly condemn his
policy. In the latter category is the
comment Of the influential Spectator,
which terms Lloyd Georges manage
ment of the affair despicable and ex-
ecrable.
"All the lessons taught by one able
diplomat after another about the way
to deal with the Turks have been ig-
nored as though they did not exist"
it says. Lloyd George has. turned
our foreign policy inside out and
made a mess of it." Such extracts
might be multiplied indefinitely from
the London and provincial news
papers.
Labor throughout the country Is up
in arms against the idea Of q new
war and, although no definite threat
has yet been made. there have been
sinister rumors of industrial action
to prevent campaign against the
Turks. ..
Britain Running Into Debt.
The general anxiety Of the British
people is deepened by the prospect Of
additions to the already enormous taxes
which are a legacy Of the world war.
It is figured in some quarters that the
preparatory measures for war. such as
the moving Of troops, stores and war
Ships to the near east, already have run
the country into the expenditure Of
"a, ,000. 600 sterling.
There is an uncomfortable rumor that
Sir Robert Stevenson Horne, chancellor
Of the excheQuer, dismayed at the out
lay and the certain ruin Of his budget
proGram. has threatened 10 fe0i6un