Miscellaneous papers on the Near and Middle East [‎26r] (51/70)

in tho Smyrna area .Then once it hae be^n decided that they are
not to annex the country, iiut they have brought this on them-
selves by going, or conoenting to go to Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. tana they should
be given a fixed date, which should bo cODir:iuiiicated to the
Armenian Govornraont, before which thay must not withdraw.
As regards (o). If His iviajesty’s Governnent subscribe to a
Peace Conference policy of creating an Armenian State time must be
allowed for the necessary pr?ictical measures to b© taken.
2he relation between this and the ^myrna situation has boon
touched on in the previous para. As things stand it may be
accepted that the Armenians can look after themselves during the
present winter, i.e.:-
They can hold their own for the time being against Azerbaij .
Their refugees are provided for by American rolief measures, and
their situation vis a vie Georgia is sufficiently satisfactory. *
Also iiustapha iCemal who, together with Aaouf, is believed to
have about :i5,000 men between Trebisond and B?jyasjid, \till not be
able to take any a^yreesive fiction during the winter.
!*
On the reopening of the Peace Conference the time available,
for making the necessary preparations will, however, be very
short and cannot be relied upon to tixtend beyond next April.
During this time the Greeks must remain in Smyrna, if not
tho Italians in ioushorn \aintolia, and the neoec-sary equipment
should now be sent to Armenia for an army of 40,000 men under
mandatory officers.
The Armenians can find the men themselves, but they must
have equipment. Whether this should be provided by Pr/moe,
Hngland or America, or possibly Italy, or ?my combination of
these Powers, must be one of the first .questions to be settled