THE TURKS AND CONSTANTINOPLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1920, Page 3

THE TURKS AND CONSTANTINOPLE.

IMPORTANT DEBA'IE. * j STATEMENT BY LLOYD GEORGE. (By Electric Telegraph—Co ivright.i (AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & REUTER.] T/lunnw rCoh 9n

In the Commons the greatest interest was aroused by a deoate on the future of Turkey, which arose in the after ■noon on a moton for the adjournment, the Coaltion attaching sufficient impoitance to the occasion to send out a three lino whip. Sir Donald McLean, (Liberal Leader), opened the debate, stressing the deep obligation the Empire owed to Tnda, but declaring Britain was under no obligation of any kind to the Turks, who entered the war without provocation from Britain. He declaimed Constanti--1 no pie as a cesspool of intrigue, a. breeder of war and a source of massacres and horrors. If the Turks were left there, Constantinople would once again bo the seat of world disturbance. Rt Hon Llovd George, (Prime Minister), declared the Peace Conference carefully weighed the advantages and dsadvantages and the consideraton ot all the dfficulties with the obstacles and perils. After discussing all chose, the Conference arrived at the conclusion that on the whole the better course . was to retain them at Constantinople for the purpose of achieving the common end. * 'Received This Day at 8 a.m.) Referring to a c-ouplc of his pledges in reference to Turkey with which his opponents mode great play, Mi Lloj George, declared the first pledge, name ' ly- “There will be a different porter at the gates of the Bosphorus.” He fulfilled that to the letter. (Cheers). 'Die second pledge was given in a speech on January, 1918, after a full consultation and with the consent of all parties. He stated the Allies were now fighting to challenge the maintenance of the Turkish Empire with the capital at Constantinople,, subject to a passage from the Mediterranean to the Black §pa being inter-nationalised and neutralised; also that Arabia, Aimenia, Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine would be entitled to recognition as separate nationalities. The declaration was specified, unequalified, and most deliberate. The immediate effect vas recruiting went up appreciably. Nearly half a million enlisted in India altogether. Britain could, not have epnquered Turkey without that half, and the assurance not being kept would damage British power in Asia, and more than that there would be the feeling that they could not trust the British word. (Cheers). Proceeding, Mr Lloyd George deflated that when the peace terms were published, there could be no friend of the Turk. If any left they did not

realise he was terribly punished for (he follies and crimes. Ho would l>e stripped of more than half life Empire; and his capital would be under the Allied K tms, and he would be deprived of his army and navy. The prestige which .his guardianship gave was unimportant it affected the protection of minorities. Turkey would be deprived en-

tirely of that guardianship. The forts would he dismantled and Turkey would not have troops anywhere within reach of his Gates. The Allies advised garrisoning the Dardanelles, and if necessary, the Bos- . phorus which would be carried out with a. -comparatively small force. Tlie alternative to the proposals was an international government at Constantinople and the surrounding country, which would- he a most unsatisfactory government, and which anyone could choose. One of the difficulties had been the falling out of Russia and America. He had hoped America might take the guardianship -of the Armenians and /■•even of Constantinople, but America for the moment could be reckoned out of any arrangement. DiWuSsing the -effielct of internationalisation on the protection of minorities the Premier said Sir D. McLean proposed to remove the Turk from the place where he could not easily direct massacres, to a spot where he could organise them without interference. It would he to the greater safety of every Armenian if he knew he had the protection of the British fleet. If the Sultan lived at Konish he would he surrounded by a fanatical population without knowledge of the outside world. The Allies had deprived the Turk of the guardianship of the road to the Black Sea which gave him real authority in the council of the world. They, also had taken every precaution to see that

minorities who suffered so bitterly' in the past have now every protection, not an interchange of Notes, hut that which is derivable from the knowledge that thoes who had been persecuting them, would be signing their decree under the menace of the British, French and Italian guns (Cheers).