The Washington times., 1923-02-12
'DAS SEES WAR
CLOUDS IN
MN 49,
EAST
Political Authority Analyses
Turkish Situation-Finds
Oil Real Issue.
By TARAKNATH DAS,

A Noted Authority on World Politics.
With the failure Of the Lausanne
conference war clouds are gather
ing heavily in the Near East. The
conflict il no more a Turko-Greek
conflict, but has taken the shape
Of an Anglo-Turkish conflict. In
such conflict Greece will Join
Great Britain and Turkey will be
aided, in all probability, by Russia.
The Turkish attitude in ordering
the allied ships from Smyrna may
Britain and Turkey are not very
anxious to start another war.
At present the Angora govern
ment is in a rather angry mood
because it feels the Lausanne con.
ference has become a source of
serious disadvantage to Turkey,
giving Britain time to concentrate
her navy in, the Mediterranean
and also Greece the respite OF
time to reconstruct its army in
! Trace, where it is threatening
Turkey. Britain has transformed
Chanak and Gallipoli into a second
Gibraltar supported by the great
British fleet. The British position
on the continent is distinctly
stronger than it was several months
most certain enlargement be-
tween Britain and America.
F.! Turkey ut Disadvantage.
Turkey finds herself at a great
disadvantage because Of the French
adventure in the Ruhr which will
tax the utmost of French energy
and the latter will not be in a posi-
ton to aid Turkey as she did in
the past. Turkey cannot depend
upon any Italian support because
Italy, to consolidate. her position,
Imay side anytime with Britain, pro-
yided she be properly recompensed.
lOpportunism has been the land
mark of Italian diplomacy.
Turkey and Russia have certain
common interests in the conflict,
particularly on the question Of the
control of the straits. The British
propositions for the control Of the
straits are not for the best inter-
cts of Turkey and Russia. But
| Turkey cannot throw her lot fully
\ in with Russia, because during the
last three centuries Russian policy
has been against Turkey. Even II
Russia wishes to aid Turkey whole.
heartedly and disinterestedly, under
the present circumstances and the
conflicts in Central Europe, she
| would not be able to throw her
whole weight in favor Of Turkey.
Russia will have to watch Poland,
Rumania. allies Of France now
bent upon crushing Germany.
Thus the situation is rather
favorable for Britain and Is against
Turkey; and that is the reason the
British government IL rather de-
terInined to carry out its own pro-
gram even IL 1t means war.
Religion Not An Issue.
If the war breaks out in the Near
East, it viii not be for the protec-
| ton of the Christian minorities. be-
cause that question was settled and
Turkey agreed to submit to the
| proposal Of the allied nations on
this point. Let this be noted, that
| the Near Eastern conflict il not q
conflict between the cross and the
crescent as many people are trying
to picture. In fact Christian Britain
since 1918 has been paying the
Arab Moslem leader. Emir Feisal.
over $780, 900 a month to arm the
Arabs who are fighting the Jews
and Christians, and it is an open
secret that the French aided the
Turks against the Greeks.
There is no doubt that Britain,
in ordinary circumstances, will be
victorious over Turkey. But will
British labor be willing to go to
war for the oil-barons Of \Pritain?
What will be the result II there be
Britain and the people Of India
not only refuse to fight for Britain
but refuse to pay taxes, as they
have threatened to do in case Of a
war between Britain and Turkey?
In that case Britain will have 10
depend upon her own man-power,
minus midas, and in Asia Minor
she may have to meet Russia and
Turkey which will not be so easy
for Britain, although she might
ultimately win the war.
Oil Control the Stake.
If the conflict breaks out for the
real purpose Of the control Of the oil
| of Mosul and to make the Mediter-
ranean a British lake through the
| scheme Of international control Of
the straits. then It might later on ex-
tend to the scale of the last world
war. Will 1t be for the benefit Of
the world?
Turkey refuses to acknowledge the
right of the League Of Nations to
give Mosul, with it's oil, to the Brit
iSh, and she does not want to submit
to this decision. This is threatening
the war. The policy for the control
Of the oil Of the world Is creating
the trouble in the Near East. Be-
fore the war breaks out America
should take stand based on justice.
Today the League Of Nations gives
the oil fields Of Mosul to Britain,
and If this be successfully maintain
| ed by Britain through coercion or