The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1922. NEAR EAST DEVELOPMENTS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1922. NEAR EAST DEVELOPMENTS

The announcement that Kemal has sent a message agreeing to a conference will be hailed with much satisfaction, although it by no means implies that the crisis is over. In a situation such as that which has been caused by the Turkish Nationalists it is necessary to proceed with the utmost caution and tact in order to avert hostilities. Britain has placed all her cards on the table, clearly defined her policy, and offered the olive branch to Kemal. It is well known that forces inimical to the cause of peace are at work with the object of inducing the Turkish leader to stake all on a re-entry into Constantinople and thus defy Britain and her Allies, but he is astute enough to recognise the dangerous folly of attempting to obtain by force what he is well aware he cannot hold other than by the consent of Britain, while ' negotiations for a settlement of Turkish claims offer prospects of manifest advantages, plus the backing of Britain, which would ensure security and permanency so long as the terms agreed upon are loyally observed. In all probability Kemal has advanced far larger claims than he expects to be granted, but once a conference is entered upon (there is always the hope that an agreement may be reached. During the trying time of the last few days Britain has displayed remarkable patience and restraint in the face of Turkish advances into the neutral zone, and this quiet reliance upon her strength as indicated by a refusal to become an aggressor, has doubtless impressed Kemal that it takes two to start hostilities, though one may try to goad the other into fighting. At the same time, though the British Lion has remained couehant it has been ready to spring if a real need arose. Happily, so far, Britain has refused to be drawn, and now has come Kemal’s consent to a conference. It may be that the latest developments in Greece have removed the last remnants of Turkish apprehension of any further menace from that quarter. The revolutionary movement that has broken out in Salonika and the islands of Mitylene and Chios, the resignation of the Greek Ministry and the abdication of Constantine (it is to be hoped finally) in favor of the Crown Prince form a diversion that will amply engage the interest of the Greeks for the. time being, even though one of the objects of the revolutionaries is to reinforce the armed Greeks in Thrace, and prepare for another war with Turkey. One of the outstanding features of Greek history, covering a. period of some four thousand years, is that although they have fought well and made many great conquests, they have never been able to hold what they have taken, and that inability has never been more in evidence than in their more recent history, and now the nation is to all intents and purposes a negligible quantity as regards international affairs, so that the protection of Greek interests, and setting up territorial barriers to Greek militancy, when arranging terms with the Turks must be left to the Western Powers. The real disturbing element may prove to be Soviet Russia, which is smarting under the refusal of the Allies to recognise its selfappointed Government, and would like to retaliate by aiding the Turks to resist the British by force of arms. Kemal is doubtless well aware that there is nothing to he gained, but much to lose by Soviet intervention. His acceptance of a conference implies that the terms of the British Note are such as to form the basis of negotiations, so that the way is made clear for an advance towards peace. To gain that much is of great importance, and the rest may be left to diplomacy.