Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-03-18
INDIA AND THE sEVRES TREATY

The Indian appeal for the revision Of
the treaty Of Scvres comes ut a particu
lurly embarrassing moment for tho
British Government, in that 1t prcccd-
es by comparatively few days the con-
ference arranged for the discussion Of
the Near East situation at Paris OH
March 90 by France, Italy and Great
Britain. That this treaty now severely
attacked, should be revised in some
respects became apparent with The
growth Of the Turkish Nationalist par
ty into power overlapping the Con-
stantinople Government.
The difficulties. however, to he sur
mounted by a conference were such as
to make frequent postponements Inn
rerative upon the grounds, each time
stated, ti.at the three nations most con
cc1 ned required time for a<studv Of Tie
situation The position Of both FrdDce
and Italy as regards the revision was
somewhat clearly defined; that Of
Great Britain was not known. but that
she now enters the conference with
| India in measure backing the contcn
lions OF Italy and France must appear
to the British people considerable Of
handicap.
Another embarrassing matter is
that the situation has brought about. Il
not forced the resignation Of Mr.. Mon
tagu. the Secretary Of State for India.
{ Mr.. Montagu came to this post with a
wide experience in Indian affairs and
at the time of his appointment he was
cOnsiderd the man best equipped to ar
tack the Indian question. In his hand
ling of the present situation he has
been subjected to severe criticism, cs-
pecially in his treatment of Gandhi
and his followers. 1t has been asserted
that the Indian authorities have allow
cd Gandhi to f6ment strife and diSor-
der, that most Of the thirty-four out
breaks in India in the last year were
due to his influences that he has issued
provocative mandates and that he has
broken every solemn promise he has
made.
) The contention of Mr. Montagu'S
critics is that all this could have been
avoided by the suppression Of Gandhi
If necessary by his arrest. To these
statements Of weak administration Is
now added the affirmation that Gan lhi
was largely responsible for the appeal
for revision Of the Seyres treaty
and also that Mr.. Montagu had fore
knowledge that this appeal WINS to be
made. 1t is thus evident that the entire
onus for tho embarrassing features Of
the present situation is laid upon the
shoulders Of the Secretary Estate for
India.
Great Britain has by no means been
united in approval Of tho Governments
policy as regards tho Near East. There
is an unm:Stakable feeling that in back
ms Greece against the Turkish Nation
nlists Great Britain backed the weaker
party. Even those who consistently
favored assistance to the Greeks con-
demned the ]ukewarmncss OF tho help
afforded. declaring that 1t merely made
British support the subject OF ridiculo.
In the meantime both France and Italy
carried on successful negotiations with
, the Nationalists leader, Mustapha K4m
Of Pnsha, which gave them decided al
VantaGcs over Great Britain. France
especially received territorial conHea
sions that secured her position in Sy.
ria and Cilicin and which will advan
tagcously facilitate hcr trade when the
5Bagdad railway is again in complete
, operation.
A summary Of the Indian appeal IN
dicates that the demand for the rcvjs-
ion of the Sovrcs treaty seeks not only
the restoration to Turkey of Smyrna,
Adrianoplc and Thraco, awarded to tho
Greeks, but also the restoration OF Con
stantinople and the Turkish Straits to
the Sultan. In other words. the Turk
is to be reestabfishcd in Europe upon
the same footing he was OH before the
world war. 1t is doubtful if British
public opinion would approve any such
Wholesale changes in the Scvres treaty.
Again there is no good reason to Nc.
heve that Gandhi represents India in
this demand. There is in that country
great population which is not Mos
lem-the Mohammedans number G6,
100000 fa total population of 313, 900
O0O--and to which the question OF tue
CaliDhate and the Sultante Is OF no ma
terial Importance The appeal bears the
marks Of another effort Of that shrewA
revolutionary and disturber further to
harass Great Britain by involving her
in a serious religious and international
complication.
(New York Herald)