THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16846, 23 September 1922, Page 10

THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

NOT A SHORT SICHTED POLICY. NO MODIFICATION POSSIBLE By Telegraph Press Association—Copyright Reuter's Telegrams. (Received September 23. 2.5 p.m.) LONDON. September 22. It is authoritatively stated regarding the British attitude on the Near East crises that Britain is seeking nothing for herself, and is .pursuing no shortsighted policy based on amour propre. The supreme interest, no modification of which can be entertained, is the •neutralisation of the Straits, with a full guarantee of free navigation for all countries ‘under the League or other effective international organisation. All. other matters are secondary, and. are subject to peaceful accommodation between Turkey and the States more directly concerned. While the Government is completing naval, military and air measures to safeguard the neutrality of the Straits and the covering positions, it in no way desires to precipitate hostilites. War will never come from the British side, but is only possible if the Kornnlist forces attack the positions occupied by-the Allies at the Armistice, and held consistently as neutral territory throughout the. Graeco-’Turkish hostilities. The situation therefore is in Kemal's hands, but there is at present no reason for supposing that Kemal will choose to apply force ot arms to questions which arc adjustable b\ conference. There is no secret about the strength of the Turkish forces, and no weight is attached to exaggerated and alarmist estimates of what she can put into the field.