TO HOLD CHANAK

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17608, 10 November 1922, Page 16

TO HOLD CHANAK

BRITAIN'S RESOLUTION. OPINIONS ON NEAB EAST CRISIS. (nOH OTTB OWN COBKCSTOinnm.) LONDON, Beptomber 22. People in England to-day are awaiting hour by hour for the news from the East and from Paris. Lord Curzon, M. Poincare, and Count Sforza are meeting, and their decision will be of a fateful character. This morning's news is not reassuring. In the meantime, there is difference of opinion among the British public if the views expressed in the various newspapers are any criterion. Discussion centres round the question as to whether we shall hold Ghanak or not. According to a Paris correspondent, the view is held in British official quarters that so far the Turks have not attacked the British forces, and that, as reinforcements are being hurried up and as the British fleet is stationed in the Dardanelles and the Bea of Marmora as a reserve line, the British position will soon be so strong that Kemal will be unable to drive them out. "This view is regarded in French official circles as extremely dangerous," the writer adds. The diplomatic conversations in Paris yesterday were naturally secret, but M. Poincare talked for half an hour to French journalists last night, and a good deal of what transpirod al the meeting is published in the Paris rrnpers. The correspondent of the •"'Daily Telegraph" also seems to have obtained information from what hi maintains is an "authorised source." Lord Curzon's Arguments. "On being made acquainted with th L French reasons for withdrawing their

troops from Chanak," he writes, "the British Foreign Secretary promptly reminded M. Poincare that what was meant by the defence of the Straits—and all "the Allies were in agreement upon it —'Was that the neutral zones on both sides were bo fixed as to secure their defence. It had never been a question of leaving one side only to ;je defended. And as a proof that tl: was understood one has only to recall what happened a few weeks before the Greok defeat, when the Greek forces madly planned a march on Constantinople. French troops promptly put an end to this adventure, and British soldiers went to their assistance. The French officers and men were warm in their praise of the steps which Lieut.-General 0. Harington took in sending British troops to the scene.| When, after the Greek attention wafl diverted from the Northern to the Southern Neutral Zone, similar circumstances arose—for it was a question of protecting the Straits, as in the former case it was a question of protecting Constantinople—the French sent troops, not many, it is true. They were kept there a few days, and then the order was given for their withdrawal. "M. Poincare gave three arguments for their withdrawal, all different: (1) That Mustapha Kemal had given an understanding not to attack Chanak; (2) that, if in spite of this undertaking an attack, were made through the troops getting out of hand on account of their excited state, the French soldiers would be subjected to great danger, and it was advisable to withdraw them; and (3) even if Mustapha Kemal kept Ms word, an attack might come from irregulars, for whom the Turkish military commander would not be responsible, and, therefore, it was again advisable to withdraw them, and so prevent an incident which might have serious results. Chanak Can be field. "As against these arguments the British opinion is that Chanak can be held. The British believe that an attack is improbable. At the Bame time, it is only exercising elementary prudence to take steps for meeting an attack should one be made. If it turned out that Chanak could not be held, it would be an easy matter to withdraw the troops across the Straits to Gallipoli. ' Though from what I have already written about the French feeling that the British Government might be inclined to change its point of view and accept the suggestion to withdraw the British troops, I am informed that it is not likely that this question will be further discussed when the French and British Foreign Ministers *nd Count Sforza meet tomorrow. So far as the British Government is concerned, the matter has been decided. It has been made clear that, whatever happens, the British troops will remain at Chanak as long as the necessity for their staying there exists. Contrary to what is suggested in the French Press to-day, the report of Marshal Foch did not make any impression on Lord Curzon la the direction of causing him even to entertain the suggestion of a British withdrawal. Moreover, the British negotiators have no knowledge of Marshal Fooh's statement that it would require 100,000 men to defend Chanak." Sir Charles Townsnend's Views. "If we prolong the occupation of Constantinople, there will be a Holy War." This declaration was made by Major-General Sir O. Townshend, MJ?., the defender of Kut, who has recently returned from Turkish headquarters at Angora, and who yesterday arrived in London from Paris. "That occupation was a foolish, a mad step," ho said. "It is useleSß to think that we can turn Constantinople into a Suez or Gibraltar, and we can makepeace with the Turks only by evacuating it, and by returning to them the ironiicr on the Maritza Biver in Thrace, as it was before the war. By this means only can Great Britain hope for peace in India> Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Palestine. We have now only a fortnight in which to make up our minds whether we will have a solid peace throughout the Near and Middle East, or plunge into a world-wide war —perhaps less than a fortnight —so there is not an instant to lose. 1$ is easy for our Cabinet to ask Kemal to wait, but the gentlemen of the Cabinet do not seem to understand what a task it is to restrain a victorious Mohammendan army with their eyes directed on Constantinople. I can tell the British public that the French will give not a man, not a gun, not a ship to assist Mr Lloyd George's policy of upholding the Greeks and preventing the Turks from occupying their own city—Constantinople—providing the freedom of the Straits is guaranteed. Italy is entirely with Franca in this matter, and so is Serbia, while Boumania, whose frontier is menaced by at least one Bussian army, ready to move on Constantinople, if r. ~ iumaAian army moved against the lurks, will side with France and C2:.- I ..'' Setting Eastern Europe Ablaze. In spite of all conflicting opinions, it seem 9 evident that were Mustapha Kemal to re-cuter Europo as a victor at the head of his fanatical and intoxicated legions, not only would the scenes of horror recently enacted at Smyrna be re-enacted on a far vaster scale in the Christian quarters of the Turkish capital, but also the tramp of those legions on Thracian soil • would set the whole of Eastern Europe ablaze. Bui 1 garia might be tempted all to readily to join Turkey in a war of revenge against her neighbours. Serbia and Roamania would be impelled to meet force by foreo, and Bolshevik Bussia might not be slow to take advantage of this turmoil in an endeavour to re-

arrest Bessarabia frimi'' v he shall have of peace draMuS'ttl to prevent oertai tt Armageddon. PeadWi* all that respect the neutral mJ*& violate them andT&SlI any political or.ttwitai^ Th«.Eapirt»s "If there were reverse at Chanak,"' rJfigß Telegraph," dictated by eonit4witti : JS| prudence, but no such feaw. ahi tti'lySli the British fdUMMfiIS reviewed by fleld-Vuffiffl Jner. The former. WMm communique at OtiirtiatfSS that all naval have been taken fa'ilj'fiH peace, and that:.iai"JwajE the zone will fall oa other languaga Ji MrttofcjJ which maintain! fa rmfav, East not by estabUihmeatt Chanak and other placet Ulnai cupation have for .Trimjftli been declared/to bi rtMfirtj respect of the Wubjiwafta, Turkey. W« bad. wMm our ImperialmpMriSs;ai 1 fess that onr:dtyii®»i6l stand by ,«w d«l»Siiiiflj must be n3:.ttOUlßg|tMSifj the iME| been a confefrte». idea of My'otJiem,ltt ; lw pasting! ad Imiiiiitfntt shaii ■ •";■*s ' ■ - The'^|sVrt;lMui , iiaßi given tea torrMpoadrat to Bd of inter(^;iM&fcad««,;iUl reniemberM, WJ tiMt*«* and the ''WmbM'Mmm! Dardanelles* «ptt|M pride of &m>mssM chief iia«^ : !ili "I do;k4t>li^M*l and England,'! ■#%« that sudi a yittjltwWß cannot see thy •Mm W»J fuss about the respect thejrhlcipl»,»tw«w Mr Lloyd'..Qami«NM>J sacred potaoV-bWgftJW than 20,000 butlsayit : slMA«ig 60,000 their ow Jwfc#WjS Mustapha Keo»l«^ME| tify tfie stwd claim of toto-iJBB ed to for OwtaatoAJK-Sl Moslem wof^^? the W«M^:&'iM of mind 6f w < land must : -£»£jßw point ■■Boft'Sgf^siJ ingtbeltok»-'. I Ss*> England pected of Frtmpwtf f ,esd 4 wiA : &gg*k General **&£s*& ii Angola *»&,. f «Zjfim there, U*b*ft/gIM ion in m kolyWar!n^^ils> only a J able diploM.'Jjj^^ point of fa virtually "JJVlgj represent w-,. : ?^^fi