A third event, almost equally important, was the presentation on
Wednesday of the draft Treaty to Turkey. Early in the week the situation at Lausanne seemed to be desperate. The NationaL Assembly of Angora passed a most bellicose resolution declaring any deviation from the National Pact to be inadvisable, and on Monday M. Poincare addressed a telegram to Kemal on which controversy still rages. As first reported, It was taken by the British delegation, and part of the French Press, to be another coup de Chanak, assuring the Turks that if they refused to sign the present Treaty further ,negotiations would result in fresh concessions. Had this been the true import of the telegram, which has never been published, the whole Allied position would; of course, have been irretrievably compromised. NO*,. however, we are assured that M. Poincare meant nothing of the sort, and that France stands as solidly with us as she has undoubtedly done hitherto during the negotia- tions. But until Ismet's signature is actually on the. Treaty a sudden French breakaway must remain the chief menace to the British delegation.
