3 APRIL 1920, Page 2

The Prime Minister made an important speech concerning Turkey and

Central Europe in the House of Commons on Thurs- day week in reply to Mr. Asquith. The Turkish Treaty had been delayed because the Allies had had reason to hope that America would undertake a mandate for the Armenians and for the Straits. They had been asked to wait till September last for America's decision. They had not acted in regard to Turkey until America declined to take part in the Conference. Mr. Lloyd George demurred to Mr. Asquith's proposal to" Vaticanize the Caliphate," leaving the Sultan as a religious potentate in Stambul like the Pope in the Vatican. If it were found that the Sultan in Constantinople could not control the Turks in Anatolia, the Allies would reconsider the position.