THE NEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1921, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST.

FRANCO-KEMAUST PACT. RESENTED BY BRITAIN. By Telwaph.—Press Assn.—Capyritfbt. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 pm. London, Nov. 7. Bickering reminiscences of Upper Silesia characterise much of the AngloFrench newspaper comment on the FrancoKemalist agreement. The French Press contends that it is nothing new, and that Britain is only complaining now because she found she had backed the wrong horse in Asia Minor. She missed a chance to come to terms with Kemal in February, and preferred to let Greece embark on a futile war of conquest. The French papers also argue that Britain did not heed France's interests when she backed Feisul. The British newspapers argue that France has stolen a march on her ally, regardless of the Treaty of Sevres, and imperilled Feisul’s kingdom and British Eastern interests by surrendering the French section of the Bagdad railway; also that France has no power to hand over mandated territories northward of Syria, thus abandoning the Christians; and, .finally, that France, by supporting Turkey in Thrace against Greece, shows no consideration for the wishes of Britain, which wants the whole question of the Near East settled as one problem. “Such independent, piecemeal bargains,” says the Standard, “teem with unpleasant potentialities.” Lord Curzon has dispatched a. protest to Paris.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Nov. 7. Cabinet is considering Lord Curzon’s* Note on the Angora pact, which is couched in firm language. It mainly objects that the agreement detracts from France’s influence in the settlement of the Near Rast, .question at a moment when Britain is anxious to effect a Greco-Turkish peace.—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.