On Wednesday Allied delegates met at the Foreign Office to
consider the Turkish counter-proposals of peace. The proposals certainly differ materially from the draft Treaty of Lausanne, but on particular points rather than in principles. Especially the Turks desire further modification in the " regime applicable to foreigners in Turkey." We well understand how im- portant it is for the Kemalists to get satisfaction on this point, since the Nationalist movement, if it means anything, means that Turkey claims to be a fully sovereign State on terms of absolute equality with the West. Kemal is now giving rein to his extremists in order to impress the Allies with the desirability of signing " while they may," but already business interests are becoming alarmed and British insurance companies in Constantinople threaten to close. This does not look too hopeful for Kemal's policy of economic development. On the other hand, the new Government at Constantinople seems to have established itself firmly. The Nationalist Caliph has held the Selamlik with an antique pomp which has not been seen since the great days of the house of Othman. He crossed the Bosphorus in a fourteen-oared caique, carved and painted with the images of flowers and birds. Thus the new religious licence of the Na- tionalists sanctions a departure from the reiterated representation of symbols and lettering which is alone allowed to the strict Mussulman artist.
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