BRITAIN'S PEACE ROLL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 73, 27 March 1920, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PEACE ROLL.

EMPIRE'S UNFAIR BURDEN.;, THE TURKISH PUZZLE AND U.S. (By Cable. — Pre?* Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, March 2(3. In the House of Commons Mr. li. H. Asquith called attention to the foreign policy, and severely condemned the Government's decision to retain the Turks in Constantinople. He recognised that it was now practically impossible to recede from the terms of the- pub- \ lished announcement. Mr. Asquith i favoured making the Sultan's posi- i tion iv Constantinople similar to that of the Pope in the Vatican, allow- . ing the Sultan to exercise no functions c but that of Khalif. lie urged that the i total amount of the reparation claims against the Central Powers should be i lixed. ■■ Mr. Lloyd Ccorgc, replying, said that it was a matter for European joy that the militarist plot in Germany failed, but it was most difficult to conjecture I what would happen now, although the situation nt present indicated a rcstora- i tion of order. The proposal to make the Sultan's position analogous to that of the Pope in the Vatican had been considered, but was regarded as inadequate. He (Mr. Lloyd George) contended that it would enormously increase the Allies' financial I responsibility if they were expected to govern Constantinople. The delay in signing the Turkish Treaty was due to a desire not to proceed pending a possible settlement of the political dilTereneos in the I'nited States. He regretted the absence of an ofT.-r l.v the I'nited States to protec£ Armenia, adding: "We cannot police the whole world. It is unfair to burden the British Empire indefinitely with the cost of policing." Mr. Lloyd George disagreed with Mr. Asquith's suggestion that British interests in Mesopotamia should be restricted to the- zone of Rasra, Almost all the tribes were anxious that the British Government should remain. "Our idea," added Mr. Lloyd Ceorgc, "was to remain . as mandatories over territory which would include Mosul in order to assist the Arab Government." lie pointed out that Germany had not taken advantage of the invitation to make n specific- offer regarding reparations. He emphasised the necessity oft; remembering the justice of French I claims, and be felt that the Allies would I support fair and reasonable proposals. The Prime Minister discountenanced the suggestion that the work of the Reparation Commission should be handed over to the League of Nations. —(A. and X.Z.) GROWING WARM AGAIN. WASHINGTON, March 2C. A sub-committee of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate has recommended that the I'nited States Government provide arms and equipment sufficient for th" Armenian army to protect the people against the Turks and Kurds, and that an American warship be sent to Batum. and marines landed to protect the railway to Baku.— (A. and N.Z. Cable.)