South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-11-22
SAYS NEAR EAST
CRISIS GRAVEST
In ALL HISTORY
Gives Intimate View of Inter
national Conditions to Knife
and Fork Club.

cent world war 10 the position Of a
mere skirmish. hovers over Eur
ope today Mai. r. Alexander Pow
ell. former war correspondent. who
has made al exhaustive study OF
Near East conditions. told members
Of the Knife and Ford club last
light
The threatened conflict would
not only involve Europe but the
greater part OF Asia" continued the
major. whereas the recent hosti-
Nuss occupied only the attention
Of Europe and for a time America.
Those frocked statesmen with
their silk hats now in conference
at Lausanne. shaping the peace
terms which arose as the result OF
the Turkish victory over the Greeks
which permitted them 20 regain
territory lost TO them for years.
carried them 10 and into Europe,
VIII shape the destlnies OF the Near
East And unless the turkish de-
mands are met, the Turks, flushed
with their recent victories. with a
military machine second TO none.
with able leaders schOoled IN the
science OF war. with the capitals OF
Angora and Moscow in a secret
understanding, a conflict. the inten-
sity OF which the late war would
be a mere skirmish. may result.
All Europe Is afiame.
Hold Balance of Power.
The Turks not only have ESQ
900 armed. we'll equipped. well
trained and ably led troops. but
they have the undenied backing OF
the entire Islem people, and by a
peculiar and curious twist OF cir
cumstences a people little heard Of.
little talked OF holds the balance
OF power in the Near East
Why was It that Lloyd George,
crafty politician that he was and
is after ne had sounded an ada
mantine warning that Britain would
not consent TO Turkish occupation
Of Syunrna and the MOslem return
10 Europe. reversed himself?
There must have been reason and
there - After he made known
that decision. secret messages from
British military observers that the
whole Moselm people was alive to
the Treaty of Versailles in which
the Turks faired poorly that a ma
tion flushed with military success,
was prepared for any eventuality.
And II was that information which
caused the then British premier TO
turn in other direction and meet
r ,rhsh demands that bankrupt
Europe with nothing to gain might
not again be plunged into a war
more terrible than any which had
thus far befallen civilization
Developing his subject. Maj.
Powell formed a background for
present incidents which have led to
the Iar-ease crisis. After indicating
the nature OF the British possess
Ions. access 20 which is through
that territory controlled by the
Moslems Mai. Powell said that
British policies dictated the Greece
Turk war The Bagdad railroad he
char-.C .erized as one Of the greatest
slnrIa causes Of the world war.
&C -.trny stole a march on England
am -eloped and financed the
Bar L ,ilway before Britain real
Iv rive up to what its real pur-
po't
bri... olicies were progressing
favorabIy." Major Powell said. 'un-
Tl the Greeks were thrown back
In utter r.oI and the British en-
nire found itself I'm a precarious
position. Then came the announce
rnent thar the Turks would he con-
O
stroke iu which Turkish demands
0 ere met.
jealousy Powder Magazine
The underlying cause Of the near
eastern crisis. Mai Powell said,
was the 1ealousies OF the Euro
mean powers. Despite that thousands
~ lives were sacrificed. despite the
fact that British and French dead
Law buried side BY side. despite the
feet that those nations are bank
rupt. 10 seems 20 have taught them
nothing / venture 90 say that Brl-
tain and France were never In
r-eater discord since the commence
r-ent OF the world war than they
are today. and instead OF acting IN
accord. the Jealous rivalries actuate
he crisis.
And today Arabia holds the bal
ance OF power Arabia rs nation,
peop'A OF whom little Is known.
Theirs Is land which any nation
would have difficulty in conquer
.nR These nomads which are a
fighting people. are protected by
three elements the 1000 miles of
rugged coast line. the great desert
and tbs sun The brown man can
live i'm temperature where II is
$50 degrees by the day with 40 de
gree drop at night The white man
perishes.
"Arabia's customs are 1000 years
old They have progr eSsed none
with civilization. The majority Of
The people are nomsds They mig
rate twice a year with thelr immense
locks OF camess horses and sheep,
A distance Of hundreds az miles In
search of pasture Their livestock
s not their only source OF income.
They gain by raids. They are gov
-rned BY sheiks. some OF whom are
immensely wealthy. possessing mill
lions OF dollars. One sheik receives
$500. 600 annually from British and
French governments. besides $50
head FOR each man who passes
through his country.
And 81 the Near East crisis les
with Arabia II they throw their
forces with civilization. then pro-
rress VIII result II not anarchy
VIII result
Marlike People
Most % these nomaI groups
governed by these she!ks are fight
ing bands They are constantly AT
ar. but ar present there - a luu