A DEFINITE MENACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18244, 10 November 1922, Page 9

A DEFINITE MENACE.

CURZON'S GRAVE WORDS. CHALLENGE TO EUROPE. LIMIT TO CONCESSIONS. ABSOLUTE ALLIED ACCORD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright A. and N.Z. LONDON,, Nov. 8Tha Marquis Curzon, B peaking in the city, said that there had been no plot or intriguo in regard to the late Government. He was not prepared to concede great superiority of intellect to his late colleagues. He had not always agreed with the late Government's policy, and the manifesto on th« Near East situation issued on September 16, was issued without his knowledge. It was -unfortunate in character and tone. There was no doubt that when they had a Prime Minister with Mr. Lloyd George's peculiar gifts, such a man must exercise unusual influence on foreign affairs.

General opinion supported Mr. Bonar Law's viow that the work of the Foreign Office, which was largely expert work, must be done by the department itself, subject to control* of the Cabinet and the personal supervision of the supreme master. Tho charge that the Foreign Office claims any special degree of privilege or immunity for j itself was without foundation. All the Foreign Office asked was that it should not be interfered with by irresponsible amateurism, however brilliant it might be.

Since he had been Foreign Secretary ho had forgotten ho -was a Conservative, and had striven for the honour of the country and the peace of the world. Britain's foreign policy was now the foreign policy of the Empire* He laid it down as a cardinal principle that peace was only recoverable by common action of the principal Allies who achieved victory in the war. The reparations and Near East questions would only be settled if France, Britain and Italy acted loyally with each other. He had never initiated any Jine of policy in great affairs without immediately informing France and Italy. He was not much of a believer in finesse or intrigue. He deprecated the dictionary definition of diplomacy, which described it as skill in managing international relations by adroitness and artful management.

Turkish Pretensions Intolerable. Britain's strength lay in straightforwardness, and in co-operation between France and Britain lay the security of the world's peace. What this country desired to eschew more than anything else was a policy of adventure —jingoism was dead. The position in the Near East at the moment constituted a most definite menace to the world's peace. Events during the last 24 hours had dealt a rather rude shock to expectations based on the Mudania Convention and the proposed conference at Lausanne. The policy of the Turks was one of nationalism gonu wild. It was almost suicidal in character. The pretensions of the Turks could not be tolerated. They had not any conceivable justification. They were an affront to the Allies and a challenge to Europe. "There is absolute accord between the Allied generals and High Commissioners on the spot," proceeded Lord Curzon, "and I trust this unity, ratified by the Governments, will be maintained. We are prepared to maintain it. We are prepared to make our contribution toward its maintenance, but, if it ia bio Ken owing to no action of our own, we shall be unable to support the burden alone." Lord Curzon appealed to the country to sustain the Government in a common act to strengthen its hands in defence of its honour and the flag. " Turkey," he said, " must learn that there is a limit to concessions. We cannot purchase peace at the cost of humiliation or disgrace. Turkey must learn that the strength of Britain and the might of Europe are rocks against which she will hurl herself in vain.'' Restoration of the Entente.

What we had to do was to get back to the condition of mutual esteem existing between Britain and France before the war. That was more important than anj written document or signed pact. He would not be a party to evasion by Germany of any just obligations. He would not save her at the expense of our old ally, but he would try to be fair between the two, and was, hopeful of arriving at that conclusion by peaceable means. He hoped to have the pleasure of meeting Signor Mussolini, the Italian Prime Minister, at Lausanne. Friendship with the United States was a tradition and a

principle of British policy. "We shall pay our debt to the United States," he continued. "The Chancellor of the Exchequer will go to America at the end of th» year to conduct negotiations which Sir Robert Home was to have undertaken. I have not regarded the League of Nations as merely a great conception Ivoo ideal for this world. It is a practical body and useful as an instrument to settle certain international disputes." ASQUITH ON THE ISSUE. ABOVE PARTY DISTINCTIONS. Au.traliKß and N-Z. Cable Association. (Eecd. 7.45 jun.) LONDON, Nov. 8. Mr. H. H. Asquith, speaking at Paisley, said that the issues involved in the very serious situation in the Near East were far too grave to be subordinated to party distinctions. It was the considered judgment of the Liberal Party that it was of the utmost importance that unity of purpose, policy action and front should be maintained between the great Powers. " We are faced with a dangerous and difficult problem," said Mr. Asquith. "Any want of tact or blunder of judgment might precipitate a catastrophe."

LABOUR M.P.'S VIEW. DECISION WITH COMMONS. Austrian and N.Z. Cable Addition. Mr J H. Thomas, Labour M.r.. speaking at Derby, said that the Turk.sh Nationalist leaders womd make a w* found mistake if they attempted to take advantage of Britain's preoccupation in Jhl Section. Labour stood definitely for ihe fSSfor leaving the House of Com--22? t a o nd de f :;ide on committing the com, try to war. v . FOREIGN EXCHANGES. FRANC STILL FALLING. . it.- and N-Z. Cabl* Association. JT«S P*S Nov. a (Eecd. 8-5 »•»•' are sti]l pani chy. tssgi see tSLW3W*?» ** * about 28,000 to the pound,