The Dominion. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1919. GREAT CHANGES IN PROSPECT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 121, 15 February 1919, Page 8

The Dominion. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1919. GREAT CHANGES IN PROSPECT

One of the most difficult problems that tho Peace Conference will liave to solve is the dismemberment of the Turkish Empire and the regrouping of the nationalities of which it is composed. The general opinion seems to be that Turkish rule in Europe will be brought to ail end. The terms of the armistice granted to the Ottoman Government give tho Allies full power to settle the political future of Turkey. Constantinople has now been in the hands of the Turks for nearly live hundred years, but a new day is dawning for this celebrated 'city which has been for so long the turbulent meeting-point of two civilisations. It was rebuilt about 330 a.d. by the first Christian Emperor, CONSTAXTINB THE GItEAT, Oil tile site of the ancient Byzantium; it was captured by the Crusaders in 1204 and held by them till 12(51; it was token by the Turks under Mohammed II in 1453, and the curse of Ottoman rulo has lain upon it ever siiice. It is to be hoped that the Peace Conference will remove Constantinople from the grip of the Turks and bring it once moi'9 within the sphere of European civilisation. The Conference will also have

to dispose of/Damascus, one of tho oldest cities in tho world, and the

holy cities—Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina. It will have to adjudicate on rival claims for Syria, Palestine, and Mesopotamia, and establish order and good government throughout Asia Minor. The conquest of both Syria and Mesopotamia was accomplished by British forces, and these countries arc still occupied by our troops. The peoples who have groaned under Turkish oppression .have been redeemed, and the vision of a great German Empire in the East has been finally shattered. The ground has been cleared, and the day of political, social, and economic reconstruction has come. If the emancipated nations are given a failchance of working out their own salvation there is no reason why Asia Minor should not achieve such prosperity as would carry it to a higher point of greatness than the highest it has previously reached in its long and wonderful history. The urgent need of the country is just and firm government. It requires wise guidance until tho new States which will arise upon the ashes of the Turkish Empire have attained a position of permanent stability. An ambitions proposal has been placed before the Peace Conference

by Emir Feisul, on behalf of the King of the Hejaz, who'is aslang for tho establishment of a great Arab Empire/ embracing Syria, Mesopotamia, and -Arabia. The claims of the Arabs are, of course, 'entitled to careful and sympathetic consideration. The Arabian Mos-

lem is certainly a better man than the Turk, who he regards as a barbarian—and with good reason. Professor Freeman fias left on record the opinion that the Turk has nol.claim to be 'placed side by side with the higher specimens of his own creed. He does not possess

the literal - }', scientific, ancl artistic capacities of tho Semite Moslem. Sir 1 Mark Sykes paint's a hopeful future for Damascus," which, he says, is capable of becoming the capital of an enlightened . State. "Provided the Turk is not allowed

to return, within twenty years we shall see in Damascus a city of perhaps double its present population, prosperous and progressive, with colleges and universities, and great mercantile establishments and fac-

tories." It will bccome "one of the great intellectual and business cen-

tres of the revived' Arab civilisation." The makers of the new map arc not likely to ignore the just claims of the Arabs, but they will have to bo reconciled with the equally just claims of other nations. France's historic connection with Syria cannot be overlooked, and the Zionist movement must be

taken into consideration. Me. Balfour has already announced that the British Government "views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will' use its best eaideayours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall bo done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights and .political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country." This is a carefully-guarded statement. It does not commit tho Government to the immediate establishment of an independent Jewish State. Indeed, Albert Hyajison, a leading Zionist, declares that the Jews desire no favour ascompared with other inhabitants of the land, and if Palestine becomes overwhelmingly Jewish it will become so, not by artificial means, but as a consequence of natural growth. T.ho Pcace Conference will have to make due allowance for all legitimate national and international interests and aspirations when it tackles the problem, of Asia Minor, and it is already plain that the task is one which will require careful handling. The one outstanding fact recognised by all is that Turkey must be closely shorn of power if Asia. Minor is to be given a chance to be free and prosperous. There is a strong feeling that Ottoman rule should bo confined to Anatolia, the homeland of the Turk. Throughout the greater part of Asia Minor the Turk is a stranger, an armed taxgatherer. He differs in race and character from, the overwhelming majority of the people. Outside of Anatolia the Turks have been merely an army of occupation, and when the blight of Turkish rule is removed a great revival of trade and _ agriculture may be expected. British engineers assert that by tho employment of scientific methods the Tigris-Euphrates territories, now a desert, might be made capable of supporting fifty millions of inhabitants.