Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JULY 28th, 1920. TURKISH DUPLICITY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1920, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, JULY 28th, 1920. TURKISH DUPLICITY.

Ever since the Allies delivered the Treaty to Turkey the latter has been using* every effort to escape carrying out the terms imposed. Unfortunately for the Turks, they have not a friend in the world, and the Germans would he just as pleased as the Allies to see the Sultan and his people ejected from Europe. The Teutons made the most use they possibly could of the Turks, but when they found that they had obtained ail that they possibly could they left the unfortunate Turks to do the best they could for themselves. The Turks paid dearly for their unwarranted betrayal of civilisation. Ever since the days of Lord Beacon shield- the English had stood by the Turks, and it was mainly owing* to this fact that the “unspeakable one” was not bundled out of Europe long* ago. Britain’s attitude on this question did not gain for her the friendship of the other nations of Europe, who could not understand why it was that the English who professed to have such a detestation of barbarities could support the Turks, who treated the Armenians and Balkan peoples in such a shocking* manner. The' idea arose that Britain’s alleged sympathy with the distressed Armenians was not genuine, and that she was afraid to offend the Turks’.lest it might cau-o disturbances amongst the .Mohammedan lection of her subjects, who.were he found in large numbers in Egvnt and India. There is no doyht that there was more than a ri ’ v ai’ l of frntli in the charges, but ill e English people must not be blamed for all the acts of the Govewmnent. A large section of 4 h« B’itUb people have always agreed with Gladstone in his repeated assertion that in the

Crimean War Britain had “backed tne wrong* horse.” It is certain unit Turkey’s great betrayal of .England in the recent war has deprived her not only of the sympatiiy of the English people, but also of the support of the British Government. Even the attempt of Turkish agents to foment revolt amongst the Mohammedan people has been of no avail, and tne Turks have been told by the Allies that if they do not sign the Treaty by the end of the moutii they will be put out of Europe once and for all. A few minor concessions that they asked for were conceded, but the main portion of the Treaty remains unaltered. The main opposition to the signing of the Treaty comes f lorn the so-called Nationalist Party led by Mustpha Kemal, who has established a centre of revolt in Anatolia. The movement has become so strong that it has been been found necessary to send Greek and British troops against the rebels, who have already received several sharp lessons. The gieater part of Hemal’s forces consist of disbanded Turkish soldiers and irregulars enrolled from the marauders who always infest the Turkish Empire. Patriotism plays a very small part in inducing these • men to oppose the Allies, and it is principally plunder that they seek. They find that fighting the Anglo-Greek troops is a task that brings more kicks than halfpence, and the unfortunate irregulars who fall into the hands of the Greeks receive short shrift. It will be found that when the time for signing the Treaty arrives the Turks will Tie a most chastened people and ready to sign anything that thef may be asked. The main clause in the Treaty provides for the safeguarding of the Straits, which

will become a neutral zone under a committee consisting of the principal members of the League of Nations. On this commission Britain, hranee, Japan and Italy will have representatives with two votes each; Greece and Eoumania will have representatives with one vote each, and prevision is made to give the United States and Kussia members with two votes each should they join the League of Nations. Turkey herself is allowed membership with one vpte. The Turkish Navy and Army become practically non-existent, and she is not allowed to import or manufacture except permission for so doing is given by • the

Allies. In short, Turkey has been deprived of every semblance of her former powers of doing mis- ■ Tiief, and she has been reduced to the status of a vassal State of the League of Nations. Turkey has paid dearly for her duplicity, hut no one who has followed the history of Europe can say that the treatment meted out to her has been undeserved. She has received countless warnings to mend her ways, hut all warnings have been ignored. She has at

length readied the end of her tether, and will pass into obscurity as she deserves. The Sultan will still retain a vestige of bis former pomp in that as the bead of the Khalifate he will still b° the spiritual head of the Mohammedan world. P. AND T. PATES. As from August Ist all-round postal and telegraph rates will be considerably higher—in some cases fifty to one hundred per cent. The increases were not unexpected, hut if the enhanced charges which, we are assured, will be made in railway fares and freights are relatively as drastic, the public of the Dominion will have a dismal prospect ahead. The new charges are merely an ilustration of how the increase in wages is handed on to the public, and in turn it indirectly hits the very men it was intended to benefit. However, until the Governmpnt rnn sufficient!v reduce the

5 amount of paper money in llie country, increased wages are the only means whereby the workers’ burden can be carried. We advocated that the employees of the Post and Telegraph Department should get an increase, which .was virtually promised them, but we ci:j not consider that the added amounts which it. is proposed to go ant them justifies the Government in so drastically increasing* the rates for both services. Whilst the newsprint used by newspapers throughout ■ the country actually costs more before a square inch of ink touches it than the subscriber pays for it, we do not consider that the newspaper rate should have been increased. Newspaper proprietors right throughout have erdeavonred to keep the cost to the public*as low as possible, and' a number have gone to the wall in the attempt. The daily papers are regarded as absolutely necessary to the working man as well as to the man of means —in fact, the percentage of wealthy readers is very small, and any increase, must necessarily hit the larger* number. It is for this reason, therefore, that we would urge that the increase of 100 per cent, in the cost of sending newspapers by inland post should not have been enforced. The whole of the charges imposed seem inordinately high, and if the, increases which it is proposed to make in the other trading* concern, the railways, are relatively as high, then tiie public may look forward to having them duly passed on bv traders. [Freights and fares will undoubtedly be increased, and wo admit that those who utilise the services should pay for their upkeep. At the same time we have a suspicion that the Board of Trade might do well to keep its “eagle" eye off the small, struggling shopkeeper for a time, and consider whether its employer, the Government, is not taking advantage of the opportunity afforded by having to increase the salaries of public servants in do a little profiteering on its own account. '