BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 156, 27 March 1920, Page 7

BRITAIN'S FOREIGN POLICY

j. 0 : PRIME MINISTER REPLIES TO MR. ASQUITH'S CRITICISM POSITION OF THE SULTAN ByTclcgraph-Preea Aaaociation-CopyrieUt (Rcc. .March 21),'8.20 ji.ni.) . • London, March 25. lir the House of Commons Mr. Asguil'li called ; attention to Hie foreign policy and severely' condemned Hie Government's decision to rclain the lurks ill Constantinople. He recogn:s?d that i|: was no\\\ imic.tiwilly impossible to recede' fir,n\ . the ternis. of the published ■ announcement. Mr. Asquilh favoiirc-d making the Sultan's position in Constantinople similar to that of the lope in the Vatican, allowing the Sultan to exercise no functions but those of hhain. Ho urged that the total amount oi reparation. claims against the . Central Powers should be fixedMr. Lloyd Cieorge,-: teplyin?, said it was a matter for European joy hliat the miiiUrist plot in ilpnuarty luui fftilwl, but it- was most difficult to conjocJiro what would happen now, nl though the situation at nreseiit indicated the' restoration of order. Vaticamsation oi the Snltiin had 'been considered inadef|iiale. -He contended that it would I'lv.innqufly increase, the .Allies' financial responsibility .if they expected to govern Constantinople. The delay in signing tlio Turkish treaty was due to a desire riot to proceed pending a possiblo settlement. of the- political differences in America. He regretted the absence of an offer by America to protect Armenia, adding: ''"We cannot police the Thole world. It is unfair to burden the British Empire indefinitely with the cost of policing." Mr. Lloyd. George disagreed with Mr. AsquitU's . suggestion that British interests in Mesopotamia should Ue restricted to the zone of Basra. Almost all the tribes were anxious that British government should remain. "Dm - -idea was to remain as mandatories over territory which would include Mosul.; in order, to assist tlu Arab Government."" He pointed out that Germany' had not taken advantagf of the invitation to make' a specific ol.ei regarding: reparations. He emphasised the necessity of 'remembering the justicc of tho French, claims, and felt that th( Allies would support fair and reasonable proposals. The Prime Minister dis countenanced a. suggestion that reparations work should be handed over to ui< League of Nations.— Imperial News fcer vice. ' J