Decorah public opinion., 1922-12-27


had succeeded Lloyd George as prime
minister. Then, at a conference OF
the allied premiers In London, Bouar
Law gave the French to understand
that though Britain could not approve
OF military measures against Germany,
she would not actively oppose them IL
the Germans defaulted in the repara.
tions payments due in January. The
conference adjourned to meet In Paris
on January 2 and Premier Poincare
intimated that he might be satisfied
with milder measures. About this
time 1t was stated In Washington that
the United States was looking for a
way TO help out Europs without en-.
tangling herself In alliances, but moth
Ing definite was suggested and Eu-
rope was skeptical.
On April 10 an economic and finan-
cial conference, called by the allied su-
preme council, opened in Genoa. Ger
many and Russia were invited to par
ticipate, under certain restrictions, but
soon after the sessions began the dele.
gates Of those two nations concluded
a treaty canceling their war debts and
the treaty of Brest-Litovsk and estab.
fishing full diplomatic relations. Sur
prised and angered. the great powers,
despite the protests of the neutrals,
barred the Germans from further par
ticipation In the discussion of Russian
affairs, which was the most important
subject before the conference then.
The allied nations offered to give finan-
cial aid to Russia under certain condi-
tions, but Belgium refused to agree to
this and day or two later the French
withdrew their assent, charging that
Lloyd George was practicing trickery
to gain control Of the Russian oil
fields. Meanwhile the soviet delegates
were making such excessive demands
that the uselessness of further negotia-
tions became evident and the confer
ence adjourned after adopting an eight
months truce with Russia.
Mustapha Kemal Pasha and the
Turkish nationalists, who had disa-
vowed all the doings of the Turkish
government at Constantinople, spent
the summer In secretly preparing for a
great offensive against the Greeks In
Anatolia. They opened the attack on
August % and took the enemy com.
pletely by surprise. Within one week
the Greek armies had been routed
and driven back to Smyrna and other
coast positions and Athens was asking
for an armistice and agreeing to get
out of Asia Minor. Kemal occupied
Smyrna on September and five days
later large part Of the city was de-
stroyed by flames. At first the Turk
ish troops were blamed for this, but la
ter developments indicated the confia-
grafton was started by the fleeing
Greeks and by loOters. Great Britain,
which had been sponsor for the Greek
venture In Asia Minor, was alarmed
by the expressed intention Of the ma.
tionalsts to take possession Of Constan-
tinopie and the rest of the old Turk
ish empire, and she called on her do
minions and France, Italy, Serbia, Ru.
mania and Greece to join her In the
defense of the Dardanelles. France,
which had been giving aid and comfort
to the Turks, and Ttaiy objected to
military operations against the kemai-
lists, and some of the British domin-
ions were noticeably cool. However,
Britain hurried reinforcements to her
land and naval forces In the Near East
and let the Turk and the world know
that she would act alone II necessary.
The allies on September % invited
the nationalists to peace conference,
agreeing to return to them Constanti-
nople, Adrianople and eastern Thrace
in return for the guaranteed freedom
Of the straits. Kemal insisted that
Russia must be included, and the allies
agreed that the soviet government
should participate in settlement of the
question of the Dardanelles. After sew
eral trying days, when war seemed al
most unavoidable, the allies and ma
tionalists met at Mudania or October
3 TO arrange an armistice. A week Ia
fer q protocol was signed providing for
the evacuation Of eastern Thrace by
Greece within Is days and its delivery
TO Turkey within 45 days, and, yield
ing to the Kemalists the civil control
OF Constantinople pending peace con-
ference. This conference opened in
Lausanne, Switzerland, November 20,
with the prospect of being long in ses-
sion. The United States declined full
particfpation, but sent Ambassador
Child, Minister Grew and Admiral Bris-
tol TO guard the interests of America
and Americans, these being especially
I'm connection with the oil fields OF
Mosul The conference had TO deal
with the frontiers Of the Turkish state,
both in Europe aud in Mesopotamls,
where the oil fields are located, and
with the control of the straits and the
safeguarding of the Christian minori-
ties in Turkey. BY the middle OF De-
cember the conferees were well on the
way to agreement, Turkey had prom
ised to join the League Of Nations as
soon as peace was signed, and the
treaty was In process of being drafted.
On May Is the conference TO settle
the old Tacna-Arica dispute between
Chile and Peru opened I'm Washington,
and in due time came to q successful
conclusion, adopting compromise
plan suggested by Secretary Hughes.
Colombia and Venezuela settled their
boundary dispute on April 9. Esthonia,
-