The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1924. THE NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 October 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1924. THE NEAR AND MIDDLE EAST.

Delivered evening by 6 o’clock In flawern Manaia. N-'rraanby. Okaiawa, Eltham. Patei>, Waver ley, Mokoia, Wbakamara, Ouanga,, Merenjere, Fraser Boad. and Otakeno Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Mangatoki, ftaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

Although news from the Near and Micidle East is meagre, there are signs that all is not well, and those ancient lands may be the scene of no inconsiderable conflict in the near future Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, and those parts of Asia where Turkish rule was strong prior to the Great War are in an unsettled state, while further east Persia and the tribes on the Indian frontier are not noted for peaceful relationships with their neighbours. A few weeks ago the news from the Sudan appeared to indicate trouble, but apparently the reply given to the Egyptian legation in London which recently visited the British Foreign Office and Mr. MacDonald’s statement that Britain intended to continue to hold control in Egypt hare paused the disturbances to subside for the time being. The Egyptian Legation was told at the Foreign Office that the British Government regarded -themselves as responsible for the maintenance of order in the Sudan, and that they intended to support the Sudan Government in its action for the preservation of public security. Since then trouble has broken out across the R ! ed Sea, where the warring tribesmen are disturbing F.l Hussein and trying to fake possession of his territory. Wednesday’s messages indicated that the tribesmen were proving rather too much for the defenders, and the removal of the seat of Government from Mecca to Jeddah or Jiddah, the port, about sixty-five miles west of the capital, showed the seriousness of the position. The country round about consists of a barren valley surrounded by hare hills and sandy plains. Mecca, is one of the oldest towns in Arabia and is known throughout the Islamic world as the ‘•'mother of cities.” Being +he birthplace of Mohammed it is regarded athe most holy city of Islam, and contains the great mosque, capable of holding about 35,000 persons. Mecca has often been the scene of conflict, and in 622 Mohammed was obliged to flee from the city precipitately, return-

ing and conquering it in 627. The ahabitos or Wahabees come from Central Arabia and the present is not their, first excursion westward. In 1803 they captured Mecca, but gave up in 1833 to Mehemed Ali, whose •son was made Sheik El Haram. For years Britain has assisted to keep Mecca safe for the . pilgrims, and in the present trouble the Moslems will no doubt look to her again. To. the north-west lies Mesopotamia, where the Turks are causing trouble which seems likely to spread. The position is that the Turks have never been favourable to the abandonment of Mosul, and it will be remembered that it was in this area that the Turks offered a very stubborn defence during the war. When the peace treaties and the League of Nations Covenant were put into operation Britain was invited to accept the mandate over Iraq,, but the Turks were not satisfied, and though conferences were held with them they failed to come to an agreement. The matter has caused considerable concern, and as the cable messages this week show the question has not been settled by the League, which has appointed a special commission to investigate it. Meantime, Britain must take measures to defend the mandated territory for which she j§ held responsible by the League, and If is possible that if the Turks persist the outcome may be war. It is certain that our nation will do everything possible to avoid conflict, but if the Turks force the position there will be no option. It will be interesting to see what attitude Mr. MacDonald will adopt, but having expressed his strong belief in the League he ma.y find, as other leaders before him have So often found, that niuch as peace is desiied there are occasions when war cannot be avoided. For months past the conditions in the Near and Middle East have not beem encouraging. The Moslem world is uneasy, and there is no shortage of opportunity to pick quarrels in Asiatic countries, where for centuries fighting and strife have seemed to be second nature. The peoples occupying the Near and Middle East cannot be trusted, and if they see an opening offering them what appear to be definite advantage®, they lose no time in accepting it. The position of mandatory Power is by no means an easy one. Britain has carried out vast improvements in Iraq, but the day when it will be safe for her to withdraw and hand the territory. over to the inhabitants appears to be far distant. The Turks have violated the frontier in defiance of the League and- the presence of British forces. Their action, if persisted in, will test the League and also the mandatory Power. What would happen if Iraq were not under British protection . can easily be understood. Yet it is not long since the Conservatives were being severely <*iticised. by their political opponents for the heavy expenditure Britain had undertaken in Mesopotamia. Have the forces been reduced to a point at which the Turks think that they can succeed in their aggressive movement ?