PAINFUL AND HUMILIATING MEMORY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3145, 27 November 1922, Page 8

PAINFUL AND HUMILIATING MEMORY.

(By Sir Philip Gibbs.) Whatever may be the final settlement forms with Turkey the story of this Near Eastern crisis will remain as a painful and humiliating memory to the British Empire and as a danger signal to* Europe Neither France nor (Jreat Britain will emerge from this crisis with unscathed reputation. The peace itself made for the time being with Kemal Pasha will settle nothing but a re-establishment of Turkey in Europe, with its old inevitable menace of unceasing strife in the Balkans, with smouldering fires to inflame hostile policies iunong the great Powers. France, by right of tradition protector of the Christian minorities in the East, has sullied that honor by her enthusiastic advocacy of the Turkish claims by arming the Turks with French rifles and ammunition, while watching the horror of the Smyrna massacre. Although the French Government accepted the original treaty with Turkey made at the Peace of Sevres they broke away from their Allies by a separate compact witli Kemal which smashed the treaty to bits. .Recently when Turkish victories and menaces demanded the closest co-operation between France and Great Britain they acted again with, utter disregard of British prestige, with no sense of loyalty, by withdrawing their troops from TJUanak in the neutral zone on> the Asiatic side of the Dardanelles at the very time when English soldiers were ordered to hold that line at all costs. As for British statesmanship and diplomacy', one can only raise one's hands in despair. Against constant warnings of the gravest kind from men who knew the weakness of the Greek character, the growing strength and fanaticism of the Mohammedan world Government, largely influenced by Churchill, the biggest gambler in world politics to-day, they gave their full weight of influence to the Greek claims, incited the Greek army to take risks which were deadly dangerous, as we know now in the result. Ever since the armistice with Germany, in 1918, this man C'lurfclnll, whose undoubted brilliance and 1 auaudacitv put a spell on Lloyd George and his colleagues, has played with high stakes for the .Eastern Empire. Ignoring all cautious advice, contemptuous of his country's burden of debts and taxation, fascinated by Oriental' visions, he adventured wildly into Mesopotamia and Palestine, challenged French interests in Syria, stirred up unrest in the Mohammedan world, used Greece as a trump card against the Turks. His rosponsihilty is enormous; he ought not to escape the frightful consequences. At a time when economy was (he only wise watchword 1 for British policy he launched into these costly enterprises; at a time when peace was vital to the British Empire lie played Willi! (ire. Against the 'iiist'iiicifs. dfosireM and protests of public opinion in (ireat Britain he persisted in a policy of expansion in the Far East io the very last throw of the dice, and when luck turned against him, as it has always turned, for his record has been one long series of disasters, he tried to reverse the decree by a sensational appeal to the British dominions for military aid. hooking back on that document which startled Great Britain by its sensational tidings of imminent war there is not a man in England who does not deplore the insanity with which it was issued, without previous consultation with France or the other Allies. Is there no telegraph or telegraph or telephone between Paris and London? Was it not possible to sound the French Ambassador at London ? To any mind not unbalanced by rage and disappointed hopes it was clear from the start that instant co-opera-tion was necessary with France. France was deeply committed to the Turkish view-point. France had for that reason political 'influence with the Turk. In anv case it would be impossible for Great Britain to take separate action to which France would be hostile and to which she would not lend troops. The British people are not those who shrink from any sacrifice when national lionor and national life are at stake. Even now. after the agony ami losses of the last war. they would! rise again to light on behalf of civilisation. The British Empire is not so exhausted, so weak spirited, that it will not assemble its manhood once more to defend ts heritage to the last gawp. But it ( was made clear at once' neither in Great Britain nor in any dominions would men enrol for any war that was not a, matter of life or death for their race. Not to holster up mistakes of Churchill nor to save the prestige of Lloyd George would men leave their women and go into the shambles once again. Not to establish Greece is an empire which she cannot hold will they add the ruin ol their trade or further burden to then taxation. From nil parts of the British Empire to the Mother Country came the message of peace at any price. not dishonor. It is possible even now that before long there may he Avar not peace. Kemal and those who massacred the people ol Smyrna may he only the advance ; guards of tlie Mohammedan world in arms, supported and incited by Soviet Russia. In that case, which is not be- < yond possibility, the British race will' light for Christendom, as all white races 1 wTll fight, or civilisation will do down to shame and ruin. But that is only possible if the white nations plot against < each other with treachery in their hearts, if statesmanship remains in the i hands of men who have gone from one blunder to another with alarming folly.