THE PROBLEM OF MOSUL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 9

THE PROBLEM OF MOSUL.

TALK OF NEGOTIATIONS. TROOPS NEAR BOUNDARY. ABOUT 50,000 TURKS. OPPOSING FORCE OF 15,000. SUGGESTED COMPROMISE. By Telegraph—Pre33 Association--Copyright. (Received 10.25 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, .Tan. 1. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph disclosed the fact that according to the most reliable estimates there are 50,000 Turkish troops now in the vicinity of the Irak boundary. Nevertheless, the talk at Angora is not of war but of early negotiations. It is possible that a British delegation will be invited to visit Angora. There appcnrs, however, to be a general resolve that any compromise formula, if such can be devised, most in no way imply a recognition by Turkey of the League of Nations' award in regard to Mosul. How such a formula can be found it is difficult to see, in as much as any concessions that Britain may be prepared to offer would relate rather to financial and economic collaboration than to territorial considerations, by means of which only slight rectifications would be possible. It is estimated at Bagdad that the British and Irak troops on the frontier number over 15,000. The Angora correspondent of the Daily News says that a Turkish War Council, including Djevad Pasha, the military organiser on the Mosul front, has opened a secret session. The aim is believed to be defensive plans against possible action by members of the League of Nations.

POLICY OF BRITAIN. THE ONLY POSSIBLE COURSE. LONDON PRESS COMMENTS. LONDON, Dec. 22. The Morning Post declares that the Government's Irak policy harmonises with its relations with the League of Nations and the whole principle of its Near Eastern policy. A withdrawal from Irak would not only have been a breach of faith with the League, but would hav6 jeopardised settled Government in Persia, the Balkans, Egypt and other countries beyond. Tho act 3 already committed by the Turks on the Mosul frontier, says the paper, sufficiently indicated what would have happened if they had been permitted further jurisdiction. The Daily Telegraph says that Mr. Baldwin's invitation to the Turkish Ambassador to meet him is the latest of many indications of better things to come.