The New York herald., 1922-11-13
Turkish Plans of Expansion.

Turkish Plans of Expansion.
The military preparations in Jugo-
Slavia and Bulgaria and the intense
interest manifested throughout the
whole Balkan territory and the Dan
ube Valley in the Near East situa-
tion clearly indicate the reaction of
these States to Turkish arrogance
and aggressiveness. The Kemalists'
defeat Of the Greeks, their stand at
the Dardanelles and before Constan-
tinople and their reentry into east
ern Thrace have given to the Turks
the assurance and bravado which
they have always shown in success.
In the demands they will present
at the Lausanne conference they
make no concealment of a policy of
expansion. What the Balkans fear
in this policy is that the Turks aim
at expansion in Europe at the ex-
pense of the Balkan States.
The demand for reparation against
Greece, If successful, would bury
Greece helplessly beneath heavy
burden of debts. The additional de-
mand for western Thrace shows
determination practically to destroy
Greece as an Independent State. There
is no good ground for the Turks at
titude toward western Thrace. The
country was taken from them in the
Balkan wars and 1t was uncondition-
ally awarded to Greece by the Paris
treaties. The Balkan States looked
to It's sea coast to furnish outlets
to the Egean and there have been
negotiations between them and Greece
with this point in view.
A possibility of an accord among
the southeastern European States
appears in the recent understanding
reached between Serbia and Ru-
mania on one side and Bulgaria on
the other Bulgaria at least refuses
to align herself with Turkey, even
though she might thereby gain
promise of way down the Martha
Valley to her coveted port OF Dedea-
Catch. The long headed Premier,
STAMBULIsKI seems to see in such
bargain an alliance that would
place Bulgaria in an unenviable po-
sition in relation to the remainder of
Europe. In other words. Bulgaria
would be paying too high price for
her seaport. The Balkans are justi-
fed in their belief that their best
protection against Turkish aggres-
sion lies in strong union.
The Kemalists' plans for expansion
in Asia include the control Of the
Mosul region, to be taken from the
British, and the readjustment OF the
Syrian boundary at the expense OF
the French. The territory in both
instances is in such position as
to open the way for further advances.
The Mosul region Is key to the
Mesopotamian Valley and Bagdad.
Syria opens the way to northern
Arabia and Palestine. 1t Is not
state of which only Anatolia and
eastern Thrace are component parts
but Turkey restored to the borders
OF the former Ottoman Empire which
KEMAL and his advisers seek.
The Angora Assembly insists that
the Turkish demands shall be pre-
sented at the conference practically
as a Turkish ultimatum. 1t is con-
tinuing this arrogant policy by in
sisting upon the occupation of Con-
stantinople and the straits and the
evacuation of the whole territory
by the Allied Commission, and also
by refusing to accept the compro-
mise plan proposed by the Allies for
the government of the straits zone.
The Turk foresees in his success at
Lausanne the realization of his
dreams OF empire-of the star and
crescent restored to the Egean coast
and Mesopotamia.
The Turk will firmly maintain this
position and the only force which can
defeat him is complete accord among
the Allies. That he Is endeavoring
to break this unity is evident 1t
is the Turks traditional resort. If
he succeeds allied Europe's prestige
at Constantinople and in the Orient
passes and the Balkans and the Near
East become more than ever peril
to world peace.