THE BARBAROUS TURK

Evening Star, Issue 18045, 12 August 1922, Page 4

THE BARBAROUS TURK

DEMONSTRATION AT ATHENS. LLOYD GEORGE’S ATTITUDE APPRECIATED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ATHENS, August 10. A huge public demonstration adopted a resolution welcoming tho spirit of magnanimous equity shown in Mr Lloyd George’s recent Near East speech in the House of Commons, and expressing admiration of the noble references to Greece s rights in fighting for the full reconstitution and deliverance of Christians from the Turks’ sanguinary and barbarous tyranny. —A. and N.Z. Cable. [Speaking in the House of Commons on Aiigust 4, Mr Lloyd George said that, though it was desirable that peace should be established, there must bo a just and enduring peace. The collapse of Russia and Rumania was almost entirely due to Turkey. When she slammed tho gates of the Dardanelles, Turkey prolonged the World War by two years. It was our business to hold the balance justly and fairly between the Greeks and tho Turks. It was not a question of Mussulman and Christian. It was purely a question of humanity. As our troops overthrew Turkey, the supremo responsibility for peace with Turkey must he ours. At present we were defending tho Turkish capital; otherwise, without doubt, tho Greeks would occupy Constantinople in a few hours. The Prime Minister said he earnestly trusted that, whatever happened, we would see that the Christians in Asia Minor were adequately protected against a repetition of the horrible incidents of the past, which were a disgrace to Turkey.] RELIEF FOR ARMENIANS. SYDNEY j, August 11. Tho Lord Mayor, as chairman of tho Armenian relief fund appeal for sending a relief ship to Armenia, says it is hoped to send a cargo of 4,000 tons of foodstuffs and clothing, of which Now Zealand promised to contribute 1,000 tons, which will ho sent to Sydney at the cost of the New Zealand Government. ABDUL’S CHAMPION. LONDON, August 1. General Townshend, speaking at Angora, said, according to the correspondent of tho ‘ Weekly Dispatch ’ at Constantinople: “ I’m proud to bo the champion of tho Turkish cause in the House of Commons. Pro-Turk opinions are gaining strength daily, and people in England do not believe the charges of Kemalist atrocities against Christians. I have lived long enough in Turkey to know the people well, and consequently attach no importance to such tales.” General Townshend lias telegraphed to the London ‘Daily Mail’ from Asia Minor the following statement with reference to the allegation made in the House of Commons that he had broken his pledge not to visit Turkey:—“ln my statement made on May 8 1 said: ‘lt is not my present intention to visit Turkey.’ (See my speech in the House of Commons of May 30, in which I dwelt on the vital necessity of stopping the conflict between the Greeks and the Turks, and on tho need of British consideration of the Mohammedan Empire, asking why the Prime Minister did not see Mustapha Kemal at Genoa.) It clearly shows why I altered my mind, and that T intended to see Kemal Pasha. I was urged to do so by several members of the House of Commons, including the late Sir Henry Wilson.. I consider it my bounden duty, in the cause of humanity and in tho best and vital interests of the Einjme, to use my powerful influence with the Turks to stop this war, which is so unjust to them, and which, if not stopped at once, will break up Europe. In spite of tho personal opposition of Lord Curzon to me, I have every hope, I repeat, of assisting to bring peace with the Turks, as I did in 1918, to the immense advantage of England and France. I hope I may be pardoned if I succeed.”