Evening star., 1923-02-11
TURKS ARE NOT LIKELY
TO SIGN PEACE PACT
Army Clique May Dominate Angora De-
cisions-Danger of War Incidents
Is Great.

appearance of cooperation i'll the
near east. It is doubted, however,
that there would have been such
the Turks had previously announced
definite rejection Of all Lausanne pro-
posals. After rejection the time viii
come for England and France TO act
their particular views. This they
probably viii do unless some un-
toward incident brings them together
IN Joint military action against the
Turks. Under such circumstances
France could hardly Withdraw.
Fraught With Danger.
The whole situation In the near cast
is fraught with gravcst danger, for
IL the Angora assembly votes to re-
sist the allies-as it is believed IL
will do by virtue of tho military
cliques in control there, cliques eager
to sustain themselves in power-thcn
it will remain for England and tha
Turk to begin tedious, long and
waiting game unless actual conflict
Is initiated through some untowarf
incident. That there will be such
incidents is without question In tho
minds of close observers, inasmuch
/ as Ismet Pasha would be overridden
.
party in Turkey.
! While negotiations are declared sus-
| pended, it nevertheless is Il known
| fact that the British are strengthen
| ing their military and naval forces
| In the straits and at Chanak. The
Greeks on the Moritza river in Thrace
are being unified. morale uplifted and
a tremendous quantity of arms and
munitions moved toward the Thracean
Ifront. Only a small river separates
| the Greeks from an army of 10000
! Turks, who were sent their in viola
tion Of the Mudania armistlce agree
ments.
| There is little question but that tho
Greeks are being materially aided by
the British, this being the better part
| of prudence in view of the extremely
dangerous position occupied by Brit
! ish troops in Constantinople, they he
| ing practically surrounded by antag-
onistic Turks. Action by the Greeks
in Thrace would afford a diversion
at least and possibly prevent INC
Turks from attempting any nut
cracker movement on Constantinopl".
which in the early stages of the
struggle might otherwise become uu-
| tenable for the British forces.
Rely on Naval Strength.
/ Great reliance is placed by the Brit
ish, however, upon the naval strength
of the feet in the Dardanelles, and
4
their military plans seriously inter
Ifered with even in the early stages
of the struggle by British warships.
| If the French should assist the Brit
.ish the Turks truly would have their
hands full. but in view of past French
| efforts at rapprochement with tho
Turks it is believed in Washington
THAT Poincare will find some way or
emerging from the situation, and par
inylo rlI in 1-iau nf the fact that Ola y
by day he finds his Rhineland under
taking more and more a burden upon
the French eXchequer. The French
government is not sure of the results
of the Ruhr adventure and until the
situation becomes clear it cannot be
Iexpected that the French will partici-
lpate heavily in engagements IN more
Sremote corners.
inouncements of the past week came
from Russia, where it was declared
ieoviet officials had decided agalnst
participation in any war even assist
lance of German worker revolution
lists.
1t is known to be fact, however.
THAT Russian war plans are all lald.
both to assist the Turks in case the
balkans once more are fired through
lThracean developments and to aid the
lGermans in case Poland acts aggres-
isively. 1t is known that Polish &C
ton against the Lithuanians at NemeI
IWOUlO De TeSdTuGu ny TIE 1NuSSidllS
Sufficient excuse to usher in military
movements.
Russ Not Taken Seriously.
1t cannot be denied that the Rus
slams showed good faith when they
declared that Russia desires to devote
her attention to economic and com
imercial advance in preference to con
llict. This is true. But the sovier
iregime has not yet subordinated po-
ilitical interests to economic and com
imercial welfare. and until the who'll
Russian political woof and warp is
Irevised Russia will keep her armies
ready to act in case of a confiagra-
tion along her western frontiers. IL
fact. use of the army is counted upon
to aid in furthering the gospel of the
tinterna tionale, which closest obserV-
ers declare is tenaciously clunE {"
even to the exclusion of economic ad-
| vance.
Russia is hoping there will be M
war if her purposes can be achieved
Iotherwise, but If there is war in east
ern Europe, Russia. through her pc
lculiar situation, will be drawn in, and
expects to be.
The Russian statement cannot be re
'garded seriously.