The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1923. CONFLICTING INTERESTS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11422, 19 January 1923, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1923. CONFLICTING INTERESTS

What the end of the conflict in the Ruhr district is to he no man can tell just now. For the present there is not enough information to justify conclusions. When we get true values it will be possible to decide whether Germany has been bluffing since 1919, and is carrying on in, the Ruhr against bayonets the bluff she put up originally against protocols. But until this point is cleared up, it will be necessary to consider other conflicting interests which affect both the general situation and the situation concerning the reparations which has arisen at the Ruhr. To consider these conflicting interests, it is best to turn to Lausanne, where they are focused.. The most striking feature in the Lausanne situation is the attitude of Turkey. Turkey is not, at Lausanne, the “Sick Man of 'Europe.” It is a very convalescent Turkey at Lausanne, speaking with a boldness unknown since the days of the old Sultans who terrorised Europe and dominated Asia and North Africa. Turkey sits at the Council table demanding freedom from outside interference, even to the extent of killing and deporting millions of people who differ in religion and naee from the rulers of the country. Turkey, as a matter of fact, is at Lausanne in the guise of a strong Power. What is more, Turkey stands, not ostensibly, hut really, as the Power strong enough to form the nucleus of the combination which, given the conditions it chooses, can have a reasonable hope of dominating the world. The strength of this nucleus is increased by the support of the Moslem world. The nucleus, Turkey, is bidding for the support of the Moslem world. That support is relied on for undermining the strength of Prance and the British Empire, the two Powers ruling more Moslem subjects than the Turkish Empire ever had under its dominion. That Is the strength, actual and political, of ) the nucleus offered by Turkey to Russian ambition, which is proletariat, and to German ambition, which is a revenge of which the completion is to be the commercial dominance of the, world.

The strength of this nucleus depends on the freedom of the Dardanelles. Turkey is against that freedom; and Russia and Germany are with Turkey in that hostility. The reason is obvious. It is expounded to-day by events in the Balkans and further north. In the north, Poland attracts first attention. A subtle propaganda, emanating from the three Powers concerned, suggests that Poland is, by agreement, committed to assist the French deoigns, whatever they may be, in the new policy, of which the occupation of the Ruhr is the starting-point. In sup-

port, the propaganda points to the calling up of exceptional reserves for the armies of Poland. That is the excuse put forward by the propaganda for the massing of Russian forces on the Polish frontier. Emphasis is given to this line of suggestion by the Lithuanian seizure of the great Baltic port of Memel. The seizure is quite natural in the case of a country which requires a port of outlet for its commerce with the world. But opposition to the obtaining of this outlet by Lithuania is natural on the part of Russia and Germany. Therefore, we have a very menacing situation at Memel. Coming further south, we see a formidable situation in Central Europe. Rumania and Jugo-Slavia, all the peoples of the Little Entente, realise the menace, and are getting their forces together. Turkish effort is trying to rouse the populations of Western Thrace and Eastern Macedonia. That the forces of the Little Entente are ready to move may be taken for granted. That the Greek armies are waiting for the signal to advance is a fact demonstrated by the best evidence. The Turk’s expedient for meeting these national aspirations is what is called euphemistically an exchange of populations, but which is really the very acme of ferocious barbarism. These things shew a division of forces. On one side, Poland and the Little Entente; on the other, Russia and Turkey immediately ready, and Germany waiting on Providence, though in perplexity about Ruhr. Should these Powers be freed from the open Dardanelles,' the success of their Combination would be oertain. But with the Dardanelles open, the help of the Allies would easily frustrate all their possible combination. The Turk and the Russian will never agree to a policy which, keeping the Dardanelles open to the warships of the Allies, must be fatal to their combination. If the Allies gave way to these demands, the German resistance at Ruhr will be increased a hundredfold. If the demands are resolutely refused, the German perplexity at Ruhr must run on to the inevitable surrender. Keep the Straits open, and the peace of Central Europe and the Dardanelles is assured, as also is the peace of the world. Give the control to the Turks, and the world heads straight for the Hades of a tremendous war.