KURDISH PROVINCES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1927, Page 4

KURDISH PROVINCES

TURKEY'S TASK IN EASTERN

ANATOLIA

The state of siege in Eastern and Central Anatolia—in other words, in the Kurdish provinces and those adjacent to them—has been prolonged for a further twelve months, making over two years in all, states the Constantinople correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian." The Government persuaded tho Assembly to take this step, not because it has reason to fear any further revolt arising from that quarter, but because the reforms which it is putting into force are not yet completed.

Eastern Anatolia is, "considered by Angoria to be the weakest point in. the organism of the new Turkey. Under the Sultanate the parts of the Empire that were fully submitted to the central authority were less numerous than those which carried on a somi-indepen-deut existence under the feudal power of local potentates. This arbitrary sway of petty tribal chieftains, or of rich landed proprietors, established itself '.most radically of all in Eastern Anatolia, and it is this -.which Angora is now trying to break once for all. The Government considers that the main note of a modern civilised State is centralisation of authority. It h-'ls that this is all the more essential in the distant regions of Turkey, where local ignorance and superstition can at easily bo excited against the most commonsense reforms.

The Kurdish revolt, first made it clear to the Government that it v,-as no use trying to do anything with the population of regions without a complete change of the administration and spcial structure. The tribal formations must be broken up. ■ The semi : feudal khulanbeys— several have been tried and proved to have carried out the most terrible murders of personal enemies in sheer defiance of all law— must be eliminated altogether and their influence cheeked. The religions sheikhs and impostors must be disgraced and removed. The armed bands must be brought into the frame of the State.

All this is ■ gradually being done, not only by the continuation of the trying and executing activities of the Eastern "Tribunal of Independence" but by the pursuit of brigands, the removal of the old officials, and the dispatch of young .and; up-to-date administrators. The awns which were used to combat the authority of the State have been collected, brigands and mO pendent heads of bands have been mercilessly rounded up,'and local "beys" whose influence and wealth were found to menace public order have been removed from their districts and provinces. lo sum up, under the prolonged exceptional regime the Kurdish a d other inhabitants of Eastern Anatolia, who are naturally peace-loving but were organiaed,.for. petty warfare, are being weaned from subjection to the whhnf or local tyrants .and disturbers. The Government is bringing into these dis-' tant regions the conception of an equal law and justice—a stern one at present, but no doubt to be mitigated when the end is achieved. It is proving at last that it has a long arm not to be escaped, and a heavy hand not to be tickled by bribery as of old. Anoth-.- year of the present martial law will brine- the fn TurkmeaiaeVal fCUdaI Wisation