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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 20, 7 January 1920, Page 4

Yesterday in dealing with prospective relations between Germany, on the one hand, and Russia, under Bolshevik rule, on the other, the menace to our Indian Empire was particularly stressed along with the collateral dangers arising from the delay in settling the AUied policy with regard to Turkey as it reflects upon ofir relations with Egypt. By last night’s mail we have an issue of the London “Times” containing a letter in which these same questions are briefly discussed by Sir Francis Youngnusband. There is, perhaps, no authority who is better able to appreciate the difficulties that face us in the East than this writer, for, born at a military post on India’s restless North-western frontier, he passed most of his active life in an Oriental atmosphere, and largely among-Moslem-peoples. After complaining of the indecision which has made itself apparent with regard to our Eastern policy, and to the mystery and secrecy m which it is enveloped, he goes on to say: “But even through the veil two things can be clearly seen. First Bolshevism is dead set upon smashing our Empire in Asia. Secondly, tne Mahomedan world is ablaze becausa Mahomedans believe Christians want to smash Islam. Ar<« as long as our policy towards Russia and towards Turkey remains obscura and undefined, those who represent us in Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Persia, and India-have to carry on their-duties under the gravest risks. - Whether they be high officials at headquarters or whether they be junior

officers in solitary outposts, _ they must be always under the sickening dread lest what they ought to be holding firmly may be slowly slipping through their fingers.

“Asiatic affairs,” Sir Francis continues, “require an especial delicacy in handling. There can be no delicacy without firmness. And there can be no firmness unless the hand receives decisive messages from the head. The men at the head of our affairs in this country are better qualified than any in the world to be decisive. But they are hampered by having to consider other Powers. Such consideration is absolutely necessary; we must work in concert with bur neighbours. No less necessary, however, is it that these other Powers should have consideration for us. If trouble comes in the East there is not a shadow of a doubt that the brunt of putting it right will fall upon us —as it did in Egypt in 1882. It is we who will suffer—our men on the spot with their lives —from the prosent indecision. The Empire has a right to demand that decision should not be delayed.” This letter may easily be read in conjunction with a statement made a day or two earlier by Mr. Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, when, in reply to a question, he _ said: “I have no certain information as to when we may expect that the United States will come to a decision as to sharing the responsibility for protecting the peoples inhaniaing the former Turkish Empire. But, while it is the sincere hope, of our own Government that America will co-operate in this task, we and our European Allies are fully alive to the necessity for preparing for the contrary contingency.” It is worth while, too, perhaps, in the same connection to note, in passing, the reference to Mahomedan peoples contained’in the letters from “Willy” to “Nicky” extracts from which are published in oUr cable columns to-day. There can be no doubt but that for many years tne German Emperor cherished the hope that troubles in the East would contribute materially to the longed-for downfall of the British Empire, and that at an early date he set zealously about the task df fomenting them. It would, only bte another instance of the “irony of Fate” were he to see his plans even partially mature after their accomplishment could do nothing towards the gratification of his own personal ambitions, which, afler all, were at the bottom of all the schemes and intrigues that have, in the end, so badly miscarried.