THE MOSUL DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 19061, 2 October 1925, Page 2

THE MOSUL DISPUTE

REPORTS OF ATROCITIES. ■ DOUBTS CAST ON STORIES, LONDON, September 30. Deploring the decision of the League pi? Nations to refer the Mosul questions to the International Court at Tho Jlague, ‘The Times,’ in a leading article, points out that this may conceivably provoke a situation endangering jritpl British interests. 4 ** Were tvc to show the slightest tol©ration,” says the article, “to possible Turkish violence in Mosul vilayot, ponding the League’s leisurely proceedings, pur credit in Bagdad would be shaken jfco its foundation. This would bo a serious matter, not merely ruining Iraq trade prospects, but endangering tho Southern Persian oilfields, which the Navy largely depends on, “ It is inconceivable that -any Goyernment would even contemplate tho possibility of exposing so vital a national interest to tho risks which would prise from chaos in Iraq.” ‘The (Times ’ adds that the League will never make real headwaj* if it throws doubt on its own jurisdiction and competence whenever it is confronted by causes of real gravity. , _ , , Pointing out that the Turks for months have appeared to consent to a procedure which now they repudiate, and which they say they will repudiate oven if The Plague Tribunal later confirms it, tho Geneva correspondent of t The Times ’ declares that the League’s . authority as an international arbitrator is at stake. The French Press comments outspokenly regarding what it calls the lack of Courage in dealing with Mosul, which, it declares, has created an extremely pwkward situation. “It is very strange,” says ‘ Le 'Hemps/ “ that the League Council only now is at a loss concerning tho nature j of the decision it has to take. Logic-, ally that seems the first point that pugnt to have been settled.” There is a disposition to believe that serious complications will occur before The Hague Tribunal gives its opinion, nor is it considered certain that this will suffice to remove the menace of .War. A message from Geneva states that Mr Amery said if Turkey did not accept beforehand The Hague decisions, any pledges and assurances that Britain had already given.would fall to the ground and become ineffective. Tho British delegation at Geneva has circulated another telegram from the Governor of Bagdad stating that further reports indicate that the Turks massacred old men and children, who from fatigue lagged behind the column of deported Christians en route to tile Tannin mountains. Sir John Foster jFrasor, writing in the ‘ Daily Sketch/ bays he expected that reports of atrocities would arrive when a case was befng made against the Turks. Knowing the country fairly well, he was going Jo wait for corroborative testimony before accepting reports telegraphed from

Mosul. Bagdad was tho home of intrigue and untrnthfnlnoss. TURKISH PREPARATIONS, LONDON, October 1. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ Constantinople correspondent states that the newspaper ‘ Djumhouriet ’ admits that Turkey is making military preparations, but affirms that these are directed solely to the national defence. The paper adds that it would be erroneous to assume that Turkey wtih her arms folded will permit England to acquire Mosul for the benefit of her petrol kings, and concludes by hoping that the English people will exert their influence to obtain an equitable solution.—A. and N.Z. Cable.