The British Note has received the support of the French
Government, but in Berlin the disclosure of its terms in Paris is resented as leading to premature discussion. In Turkey the proposals for the cession of the islands to Greece have provoked vigorous protest in the Press, which.
finds them wholly inconsistent with Mr. Asquith's declarations as to the integrity of Turkey's dominions in Asia. A semi- official announcement was published in Rome on Wednesday denying that Great Britain, as reported, had intimated to the Italian Government that Turkey had already fulfilled the provisions of the Lausanne Treaty, and that consequently the time had come for Italy to evacuate the islands occupied under the Treaty. The British proposal, it is stated, is limited to placing it on record at once that when, in accordance with the Treaty, Italy evacuates the islands, they shall be assigned to Turkey, and not to Greece as Great Britain and other Powers have in the past appeared to desire. The disclosure of the British Note at this stage is certainly unfortunate, because publicity has bad its usual effect of raising the temperature. The annoyance of Germany, if not that of Turkey, could probably have been avoided.
