MIDDLE EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1920, Page 5

MIDDLE EAST.

AN ANXIOUS SITUATION, STRONG FORCES REQUIRED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 23. In the House of Commons Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary for War) said the situation in the Middle East was a very anxious one,, but so far had not proved so formidable in practice as it seemed in prospect. Nevertheless, the situation was acute. As regards Mesopotamia there were three causes of anxiety. First, the Turkish Nationalist movement under Mustapha Kemal; secondly, the Arabs, who had been disturbed by the occupation of Syria and were now inclined for the first time in many ways to make common cause with the Turkish Nationalists; thirdly, the Bolshevik destruction and the advance of the Bolshevik military power would extend over the whole of thoße great regions north of the Caucasus and beyond the Caspian, quite unchecked by any Russian force. With the fall of the Caspian Sea, which must occur when the ice of the Volga melted and the Bolsheviks could descend the river, the Bolsheviks would be in close touch with the doubtful Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Georgia, also with hostile forces under Mustapha Kemal. On military grounds this juction was formidable. He thought it probable the Bolsheviks would use their advantage to spread their propaganda as widely as possible, rather than follow it up in a strictly military sense. It was, therefore, obvious that the whole position in the Middle East caused great anxiety and required the maintenance of strong forces there. He hoped, however, it would be possible to effect economy in that theatre in the ' course of a year by holding Mesopotamia primarily through the agency of the air rather than of military forces- We could not continue holding the country and spending 13 to 20 millions yearly on the occupationHe saw no reason why British statecraft should be bankrupt in Mesopotamia, when so successful in other parts. He instanced the Sudan, where there was only one white battalion. ITe was not prepared to propose we should march about Mesopotamia holding people down by military force, nor had he ever pretended that, when we received the mandate, we should immediately occupy and dominate every square mile of the country on the first day. Other methods must be devised if we were to continue to keep 'Mesopotamia. He instanced the process ill West Africa, where British political influence had gradually permeated the whole country and brought sreat areas under successful control. That was the line on which they were j working now regarding Mesopotamia.