The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, SEPT. 28th, 1922. THE NEAR EASTERN QUESTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, SEPT. 28th, 1922. THE NEAR EASTERN QUESTION.

Tub Venetian C'rnfcrenee will, it is hoped, reaeli the length of a workable settlement in regard to the Near Eastern question. It has been a disturbing question over a long term of years, and has exercised British diplomacy frequently. Whether a complete and lasting settlement is within the range of possibilities remains to be soon. There are more parties and more interests than Greece and Turkey to bo considered. The whole Balkan issue rises up and behind looms Russian interests. So the issue is really very complex. Mainly, however, the coming conference will centre on'Grecian and Turkish ambitious and the Western Powers will have their hands full even with this partial problem. In the desire, in fact determination to km* t,,e Dardanelles to ■fifispliorw* pnww newtrnl the TMern fwera eannot kwp

out of tho embroglio. Tho difficulty will be to maintain the status quo thereafter. If tho League of Nations had any real hacking, it would he altogether tit and proper that the League should adjust matters in the Neai East once and for all. Those eastern squabbles arise from such trifling causes at times, and when armies start to marshall, there is no telling where the struggle will end with the states in so adjacent, and the people ever ready for a trial of strength. IVe know to bitter cost that a political crime in a tenth rate Albanian town embroiled the world. Invariably these crises in the Near East affect the relationships of the Great Powers. The parties to them manage to secure an influential patron from among the latter. And so it is in the latest phase of the Near Eastern question. The attitude of France is well known. France is the avowed champion of Turkey; French gnus and munitions contributed to Mustapha Remaps victories. Britain maintains that treaty engagements should be honoured, and hence became the backer of Greece up to a certain point. But Britain was not prepared to allow Greece to overstep the neutral territory' any more than Turkey, and hence the Empire has become directly involved in the Near East again. Britain has neither the desire nor the means to embark upon an adventure in the Anatolian Mountains in order to satisfy the imperialistic ambitions of Greece. Doubtless a solution will be reached at the Near Eastern Conference which is summoned under the auspices of the Allies. Her recent reverses will have induced in Greece a greater disposion to compromise. The Nationalists may be elated by their victories, but they must, nevertheless, recognise that with the Dardanelles in the occupation of the Allies the latter have hostage in the shape of Constantinople. Still Turkey will gain considerably by reentering Thrace and the Moslem world will derive great delight from again being the governing power in Constantinople.