Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15
TURKS AT LAUSANNE
TO HAVE WHIP HAND
Grant of Chester Concessions to Ameri.
cans Will Strengthen Position in
Resisting Allied Grabs.

ly 5000 miles Of railroad in Anatolia
and Persia. the construction of cities.
docks and ports and, In a genera!
way, involve the reconstruction OF
the old Turkey and placing 1t upon
basis of all advancing nations. Many
OF the choice concessions which the
allies sought to gain by force and
subsequently by guile have been
turned to American hands. .
Turks Play for U. 8. support.
The Turks. by their action, at once
gain the indirect support of the
United States government in the de-
velopment Of the new Turkey for the
Chester concessions and will have the
backing of this government in case
foreign powers strive to undermine
the wishes Of the Turks. The con-
cessions will be but a step in the
, of the Turks and the Americans closer
together as against the selfish ends
pursued by some European powers.
The Turks will enter the Lausanne
but the prolonged sessions and acri-
mony over concessions may fade, un-
less the French and the British at
tempt to bring political pressure upon
the Turks, thing to be expected
from France at least Then the Turks
Of war threats. to defy the allies.
Furthermore. they will be able to
strengthen their demands in regard
to other directions and the allies
eventually will be forced to accedee
unless they wish to go to war. And
this is the thing they do not want.
In case of threatened conflict the Is
sue would be clear cut the allies f1nd-
| ing themselves committed to a war
| fare for concessions already granted
to the Americans 1t is not believed
that the allies will press the matter
| that far. although 1t cannot be ex-
pected that either France or England
will be content to abandon their old
effort to bring about their own par
ttc1pation In American development
OF Turkey.
Feeling in France Bitter.
The feeling against the Americans
and the Chester concession in France
Is bitter. The press has demanded
that the British Join them in protest
| ing the concession, and even going to
war II necessary to enforce the old
! of f1nanciers of France and the Turks.
| looking toward the development Of
| certain railroads in Anatolia. an
! agreement which not only was not
sanctioned by the Turkish parliament
| under the sultan, but was abroRated
| by the war France waged against the
| Turks.
The fight of the allies for the main
tenanes OF the combinations would
cover these old agreements. but Mus
tapha Renal insists they are to the
disinterest OF the Turks. and that the
American, agreement is to the best in
terests of the nation. The Turks are
ready to go far. in UNFOLDING their
determination alone.
British canital is interested in the
| near east. but in England there is
more Of feeling tha' if the Ameri-
cans are to develop Turkey there is
! more Of chance of future accord
and cooperative endeavo- II the
| matter is left to be dealt with be-
tween the French and the British the
near eastern question already having
been the occasion Of several grave
! IS said. feels that it is better that the
American claims stand. even though
the British are crowded out. But II
must be expected. however, that
diate NEGOTIATIONS will reflect to a
certain degree the pressure OF GER
tain British financial interests be-
hind 1t. IN official America. CONVEX
SAINT with British tendencies. It is be-
lieved the British will not hermit the
grant to interfere with definite set
tied agreements with the Turks dur
ing the coming Lausanne parley.
Position of Russians.
The Russians were among the first
to protest the proposed Chester grant
when It first came TO the fore in
1908. when President Roosevelt sane
toned the negotiations Of the Amer
lean admiral with the sultan, but
Russia's present position NAV prove
different because OF the peculiar COM
plexion of the government. It is
believed. however. that, now that
Russia is permitted to control the
Baku oil fields and the Transcauca-
sian region. with fits teeming millions
in natural resources. Russia will not
be as quick to protest American oil
grants In the Mosu1 region. How
ever. the Russians have looked
forward to being the chief influence
in the reconstruction OF Turkey and
may resent incursion by the Ameri-
cans. On the other hand. the Rus
slams. ever willing to WOO American
their concessions against the allies.
Russia may spur the Turks on in
resisting the allies demands. Having
many fields of her own susceptible
Of development and desiring capital,
Russians may support the Turkish
concessions to the Americans in the
hope Of attracting American capital
to Russia.
Though the Chester concession be
that all will be smooth sailing merely
by virtue OF the jealousies of GER
tain European countries. particularly
those already made manifest In Paris.
but there is every reason to believe
that. unless there is actual warfare
in the Immediate future. the Ameri-
cans will get their project under way
and particularly. so If an accord Is
reached at Lausanne.