At Lausanne Ismet Pasha has, apparently, been instructed to fight
to the last ditch for the possession of Mosul, with no weapon but bluff. The British Empire stands pledged to the population of Mosul, to its elected king, and to the League of Nations not to allow the vilayet to pass under Turkish rule. There is no argument upon the side of the Turks except their desire to possess as much of their old empire as they can lay hands on. Their only means of offence is to be intransigeant and compel us to take by force, to their own detriment, formal concessions that are already ours in actual fact. The Turks have counted upon our unwillingness to allow the world's peace to be disturbed ; but Lord Curzon has again shown the soundness of a firm policy based on a thorough knowledge of the facts. And though the Turks have been as obstructive as they could be, it is inconceivable that, unless they wish deliberately to provoke trouble, they will continue in a course which can in no way advantage them.
