I have reproduced the above extract in order to show that the present British policy has been affected by propaganda of an unscrupulous nature.  Turkey which was dominant over two million square miles of Asia, Africa and Europe in the 17th century, under the terms of the treaty, says the London Chronicle, has dwindled down to little more than 1,000 square miles.  It says, “All European Turkey could now be accommodated comfortably between the Landsend and the Tamar, Cornawal alone exceeding its total area and but for its alliance with Germany, Turkey could have been assured of retaining at least sixty thousand square miles of the Eastern Balkans.”  I do not know whether the Chronicle view is generally shared.  Is it by way of punishment that Turkey is to undergo such shrinkage, or is it because justice demands it?  If Turkey had not made the mistake of joining Germany, would the principle of nationality have been still applied to Armenia, Arabia, Mesopotamia and Palestine?

Let me now remind those who think with Mr. Candler that the promise was not made by Mr. Lloyd George to the people of India in anticipation of the supply of recruits continuing.  In defending his own statement Mr. Lloyd George is reported to have said: 

“The effect of the statement in India was that recruiting went up appreciably from that very moment.  They were not all Mahomedans but there were many Mahomedans amongst them.  Now we are told that was an offer to Turkey.  But they rejected it, and therefore we were absolutely free.  It was not.  It is too often forgotten that we are the greatest Mahomedan power in the world and one-fourth of the population of the British Empire is Mahomedan.  There have been no more loyal adherents to the throne and no more effective and loyal supporters of the Empire in its hour of trial. We gave a solemn pledge and they accepted it.  They are disturbed by the prospect of our not abiding by it.”

Who shall interpret that pledge and how?  How did the Government of India itself interpret it?  Did it or did it not energetically support the claim for the control of the Holy Places of Islam vesting in the Khalif?  Did the Government of India suggest that the whole of Jazirat-ul-Arab could he taken away consistently with that pledge from the sphere of influence of the Khalif, and given over to the Allies as mandatory Powers?  Why does the Government of India sympathise with the Indian Mussalmans if the terms are all they should be?  So much for the pledge.  I would like to guard myself against being understood that I stand or fall absolutely by Mr. Lloyd George’s declaration.  I have advisedly used the adverb ‘practically’ in connection with it.  It is an important qualification.’