THE NEAR EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15061, 7 October 1922, Page 4

THE NEAR EAST

The latest messages bearing upon the Mudania Conference indicate that considerable progress has been made towards a general agreement between the Allied and Turkish delegates, and London opinion holds that the question of peace now lies with the Greek Government. In its reply to the Allied invitation, the Angora Government, after slating that the decisions of the Mudania Conference regarding the present military situation will be completely executed, accepts the invitation to a peace conference, and declares that there is no disagreement in principle regarding the freedom of Die Straits to secure the safety of Constantinople and the Sea of Marmora ancl to safeguard the Interests of minorities compatible either with tire independence and sovereignly of Turkey, or the exigencies of effective settlement in the Near East. Tills answer also undertakes to reply later regarding membership’of the League of Nations, and assures ..the Allies of Angora’s loyal and sincere assistance in re-es-tablishing peace. It is plain from another cabled report that Mustapha Kemal is very well pleased with the development of the situation, for in a message to the population of Constantinople he declares: “A day of peace corresponding with national aspirations is near. Everything now devolves upon our arms. The whole world and the sane section of British opinion is on our side. Even certain western statesmen, formerly misguided, arc on our side.” The last sentence of this proclamation is interpreted in London as a reference to the new tendencies of British diplomacy; and it must he fell dial Kemal lias some ground for self-congratnlalion in ibis connection. All uulieuticuisi point to

the probability of Turkey emerging from the coming peace conference in a much improved position, mainly at the expense of Greece, which, however, has only the polioy of greed adopted by her under the rule of Constantine to blame for her present humiliation. If, as Kemal claims, with, it must be admitted, some appearance of accuracy, the whole world is now favourable to Turkish aspirations, the eating of humble pie rather than resistance is likely to prove the more prudent path for Greece to follow at this juncture. Another supposition which may bo hazarded is that the present course of British statesmanship in the Near East, while it may be the part of wisdom, has a taste not pleasant on the palate of many Englishman.