In the meantime Lord Balfour, speaking as British delegate to
the League of Nations, appealed to the Council on the question of Mosul. In the draft Treaty "the Turko-Iraq frontier is left to the decision of the Council of the League of Nations." Thus the real crux of the negotiations has been shelved, so that even if the Turks do sign our difficulties in the Near East will be far from ended. But in spiteof the more friendly atmosphere which was apparent in the final meeting of the Conference, and of the absolutely " correct " attitude of M. Bompard, the French representative, it cannot be pretended that there is great hope of Ismet signing. Even if M. Poin- care's telegram was not intended to hamper Lord Curzon the mere fact that there has been a controversy over it must have had an effect on the Oriental mind, which is for ever looking for subtle signs of disunion between its opponents. Ismet asked for eight days in which to consider the Treaty,. but Lord Curzon, already so long absent from his duties at home, could not give him longer than till next Sunday night. By that time, then, we shall know whether the Angora Cabinet are fanatics prepared to plunge their country back into a hopeless war or merely ordinary politicians bluffing to the last instant.
