Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1922. FACING GRAVE ISSUES.

Now that the first effects of the British Premier’s startling action in relation to the Turkish menace have subsided, it is possible to obtain a fairly accurate view of the grave issues involved. Thanks to the efficiency of the cable service, the people of New Zealand are able to acquaint themselves with views and opinions on this Near East question in all parts of the world. The difficulty is to place a correct value on these varied comments, many of which are strongly biased, others being tinged with political partisanship, while, in the case of France, there are two separate parties whosa views are opposed to one another, one desirous to berate Britain for resenting French self-will in relation to the reparations question, and the other, mindful of all that Britain has done for their country, asserting that the French Government ‘‘has now the opportunity to seal a grand alliance from the Rhine to the Bosphorus.” A calm review of the situation in the Near East as it exists to-day is certainly not inspiring. On the one hand the Turkish Nationalists, headed by Kemal, and supported by the great body of Mohammedans, insist that Constantinople must be freed from foreign domination and become once more the centre of the Turkish Empire and the seat of the Khalifa, with unhampered administration. While Turkish papers agree that the freedom of the Straits must be respected, there is no guarantee that such would be the case, for the power that dominates Constantinople will naturally dominate the Dardanelles. The one gleam of hope that has appeared is to be found in the communication made by The Times correspondent in Constantinople, to the effect that it is now certain in well-informed circles that Kemal will attempt to avoid a collision with the Entente Powers until after he has tried negotiations, but so little trust can be placed on statements of that kind, though it is obviously the only proper course to adopt, that he may strike first and leave negotiations till afterwards, when it is clearly known what forces he is opposed by, and what support he can relv upon. Kemal’s policy i as disclosed by his somewhat bembAstic assertions, will need to

be drastically pruned if diplomacy is to avert an armed confiict. He may have the active support of militant Bolshevism, but his trump card is a Mohammedan uprising, particularly in India and Egypt. Whether Bulgaria would risk certain obliteration by joining Turkey is problematical, but it is quite possible for serious trouble to be caused in both India and Egypt- How, then, does Britain stand? France apparently takes the view that the situation must be settled by negotiation, and it is quite possible she will abstain from material help. Italy sympathises with Britain, but draws the line at rendering assistance. The Little Entente is also friendly disposed towards Britain, yet these nations have more to lose than to gain by taking sides in the dispute. As to the United States, no material help can be expected from that quarter —nothing but advice —so that, getting down to bedrock, it would seem that if the matter is to be settled by armed force, and not by negotiation, the British Empire practically stands .alone. It is the moral effect the unity of the Empire cannot fail to have in negotiations for a settlement of the whole question, that is an appreciable factor. In reality, if fanaticism is eliminated, there should be no insuperable barrier to the success of diplomatic negotiations. In view of the recognsied fact that if an upheaval takes place in the Balkans it may involve a war of considerable dimensions, no stone should be left unturned to arrive at a peaceful settlement of the present trouble. Whether the League of Nations can assist in this effort to solve the present problems is uncertain, but the grave issues which have to be faced—and arranged by one method or another —make it imperative to be prepared for the worst, while doing all that is possible to avert a world-wide calamity. Unhappily it is the British Empire that must shoulder the burden, but its back is broad and its strength equal to the strain. Judging from" a cable received last night, this also is the view of the British Cabinet, which has decided that the British Empire will see the crisis through alone if necessary.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19220920.2.19

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1922, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
741

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1922. FACING GRAVE ISSUES. Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1922. FACING GRAVE ISSUES. Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1922, Page 4

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert