MR LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1923, Page 1

MR LLOYD GEORGE.

TREATY OF J,.\ USAXNE. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. Tlic following and all of Mr Lloyd George’s articles, are copyright by United Press in America and all countries, copyright in Australasia by the Australian Press, Copyright, in Britain by the Daily Chronicle. (Reproduction in lull or part prohibited). LONDON, July 20. In his article on the Lausanne Treaty Mr Lloyd George says: “• The Turk may he a bad ruler, but he is prince of anglers. The cunning and patience, wherewith he lands tiic most, refractory fish once he is booked, are beyond compare. AVlint inimitable play we have witnessed for six months on the shores of Lake Leman. Once the tish seemed to have broken the tackle; that was when the lirst conference abruptly ended. It simph meant, however, that the wily Oriental was giving out plenty ol line. lie knew the moment would collie when they would return with the hook well 111 their gullets, and play would begin once more ot reeling in and reeling out a line, sometimes taut and strained, but never snapping. Time and patience have rewarded him at- last. The huge tarpon are all Iceuehed. On the banks, Britain, France. Italy and the United States arc high and dry, landed and helpless, without swish lelt in their tails, glistening and gasping in the summer sun. “It is little wonder that Isniet Pasha had a, smile on his face when all was over. Reports from Angora state that the peace" is hailed there as a great Turkish triumph, and so it is. If the Turk could govern as well as lie angles his would he the most formidable empire in the world. Unfortunately he is ihe worst of rulers, hence troubles of Ins mra, and of those who have unhapjiilv drawn him as governor in the lotterv of life. ALLIED uxdkrstandng. “ Experience, more especially during last century, had demonstrated clearly that the Turk could no longer bo en.Tusted with the property, honour, or lives of any Christian race within his dominions, so a series of agreements was (Mitered into, in the early months of 191.1. between France, Russia and ourselves, whereby Turkey, with its conglomerate population, was to he partitioned at the end of the war. YiTien Italy came into the war a portion was assigned to her. I lie Ireaty of Sevres considerably modified that policy in many vital aspects. Many objections could ho raised to the 1915 proposals, as, for instance, the contemplated handing over, in Gelicia and Southern Anatolia, ol populations which, in the main, were Turkish and Moslem to Christian rulers. But. in substance, the modified plan of the Sevres Treaty was sound, and. il carried out, would have conduced to the well-being of millions who were to lie , liberated for ever from Turkish rule. The world at large would also have benefited by the opportunity afforded ill! industrious and intelligent Armenians and Greek populations of Turkey io renew the fertility of his land, once so bountiful in its gifts, thus enriching man’s store of good tilings. OREM FATE. “ The barbarian invasion, which had withered that fertility, was pushed back into the interior by the Treaty of Sevres, but the Treaty of Lausanne lias extended, and perpetuated. its sway from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The story of Lausanne is | i cmpnuml of shortsightedness, disloy- | ally. selfishness. and pusillanimity | among the nations and their statesmen. | More than all. Fate happened to be ie its grimmest mood when dealing with this problem. The Russian revolution had olminated that great country from the solution of the j problem on the of protection for. I lie oppressed races m Turkey, and had (list its might, on the side ol the oppressor. President 'Wilson was incliu,.il i,, ivniiiiiiK'iul Unit the United Smses should iniilcrtake a mandate lor lhe Armenians. Had lie succeeded what a iliil'.'i'i'iit story many years to come would tell. Ills health broke down, and the United States would have none of . his hiiimuiilari.-m i schemes. Then came Baron Sunn inn’s departure from the Qiiirinal. His successors were homelier men. but I have -till doubts whether they served Italy best b,v pursuing a less adventurous, and more domestic;!led policy. II"' future may decided licit issue, but whatever the deeisioii. the time for adioii has passed a\vn\. and unlc.-s, and until, there is another break up in Turkey the chance Tialy lias hist since 1919 will nut be recovered. Then there was the French cheek in Cilicia and negotiations at Angora with Muslnpha Kemah which were both single-handed and under-handed. _ The Allies were not even informed of what was oiling on. this Jatal step bloke the tmity' which alone enabled the Western Rowels to deal effectively vMil the Turk. GR ELK’S F \TAI. CHOlf E. The last fatal change was the Greet revolt against M. Vonizclos. It is oileu said that lie is the greatest statesman 1 thrown up by Ids race since Eerirb's. In ail lie has undertaken he has never failed his people. Disaster always came lo them when they refused to follow his guidance. When King Alexander was killed by a monkey the Greeks were called upon to between King Constantine and M. \ eniy.olos. Their choice was ruinous to the country. Before the advent ol King Constantine. Greece, with no aid and little countenance from the lowers, was able, to bold Muslaplia’s forceeasily at bay and even drive them hack. hut. with King Constantine, there came a change in the Greek Armv. Courtiers replaced soldiers in the high command. W bile the French. British, and Italian public opinionremembering King ( onstantine s treachery during the war, altered their attitude towards the Greeks, lufli.ler(l.L Powers became hostile, hostile Powers became active, and when the Kemalist attack reached us lines the Greek Army was beaten. Then (, amo panic, and, with panic, the complete destruction of wlmt- was once a him armv. With its disappearance went the last hope of Anatolian salvation. A ROUT. That the history of the East, am. prohablv of the West, should have been changed bv the bile ol a monkey, j, just, another grimace ol the comic spirit which bursts now and again into the pages of every tragedy. All that could be done afterwards was to sine the remnants of a. great pnliW ■ ' u - cm civilisation put up us last, light imninst the return ol savagem m - Europe when the British sailors am soldiers. deserted by their. Alims and -social"- saved Constantinople last t lumber and October from hideous carnage. The Pact of Mudan.n - - t Sevres Treaty, bin was cm t.mile S lo MudAuia Vis terminus, it is only a mile-tone.