The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1922. THE TURKISH MENACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1922. THE TURKISH MENACE.

That the position in the Near East has now become one of grave concern is apparent from the measures that are being taken by the Imperial Government to eope with any emergency that may arise. The latest step was announced yesterday by a special cable message to the effect that “Britain is strongly reinforcing her troops at Constantinople, and is asking the Dominions to send contingents to defend their interests at Anzae.” Mr. Massey confirms that message, but is unable to extend the information contained in the cable. As was pointed out in the recent British Note to Italy, the time for verbal academic discussion has passed, and it is. imperative that firm and decided action should take place. That by no means implies a war with Turkey, but it means that even if the Allies fail to present a united front, there shall be no miscon ception as to the whole of the Empire being at the back of Britain in dealing with the situation promptly—peacefully, if possible, but certainly effectively- Flushed with victory,over the Greeks, after over two years hostilities, the Turks are making demands impossible to grant, and making threats which are transparently clear. In this matter the Angora Government represented by the Kemalists, are as one with the general body of Turks, hence the serious nature of the menace, not only to Britain and her Allies, but to the Little Entente and the Balkans peoples. The Turks have secured by armed force the territory which the Allies proposed should be given up voluntarily. It may be natural from the Turkish viewpoint that the Turks should claim to negotiate a settlement as victors, but that claim has no status as regard other nations besides Greece. Their claims embrace the return to Turkey of the whole of her sovereign power as it existed in 1913, the possession of Anatolia and Thrace and the restoration of the Sultan as the Father of the Faithful. This claim includes control of the Dardanelles, Mesopotamia and Palestine, assent whereto is impossible. While disclaiming the intention to foment a Pan-Islamic rising, a distinct threat has been made that if .Britain opposes Tiirkish national aspirations, a Mohammedan rising will take place, thus involving the safety of India and Egypt. Having had the moral—if ' not material— support of France in their war against the Greeks, the Turks probably consider that the Allies are divided in their views as to Turkish claims. It is France that has become the doubtful element in the solution of the problem, yet even she has drawn the line between her sympathy for Turkey in opposing the Greeks, and allowing the Turks the control of Constantinople and the Dardanelles. The British Note to Italy put the position very plainly, demonstrating the danger of an advance of Bolshevism into the Mediterranean, through the Sea of Marmora and the Dardanelles. It seems inconceivable that. I rance should for a moment hesitate to

join with Britain and Italy in presenting a united front to Turkey and insisting on a peaceful settlement of matters in dispute, but Britain can take no chance in that direction, hence the move to strengthen her forces at Consantinople, and the request to the Dominions to protect Gallipoli. It may be found that the move is one that is directed to impressing not only the Allies, but the Turks and their co-religionists in India and elsewhere that the* British Empire is in earnest in safeguarding its interests, the interests of Christianity and those of Europe. It is just that sure front which is needed to promote the success of a conference and to avert war by being prepared to face the worst, for Turkey is well aware that she can neither face the combined Allies nor the might of the British Empire- Without doubt the situation is full of gravity, though there is no cause for alarm. It is to be hoped peaceful counsel will prevail, but it would be criminal folly not to be prepared for hostile attacks by the Kemalists.