Papers written by Curzon on the Near and Middle East [‎143r] (285/348)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.j
EASTERN (Turkey).
[October 17.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
[E 11242/27/44]
No. 1.
The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston to Sir R. Graham {Rome).
(No. 1290.)
Sir,
Foreign Office, October 17, 1922.
THE Italian Ambassador called upon me this afternoon, and I explained to
him at length the proposals with regard to the Peace Conference which were being
dealt with in private correspondence between M. Poincare and myself . I acquainted
the Ambassador with the points upon which we were agreed, and indicated those
which I was still pressing upon M. Poincare’s acceptance. 1 hoped that he would
telegraph fully upon all these to his Government, and that, whether here or in Paris,
a common agreement might speedily be arrived at.
At the close of this conversation, he gave me his personal opinion upon the
Freedom of the Straits as viewed from the Italian standpoint. It was not to the
interest either of Italy or, he thought, of Great Britain, to make Russia a Meditei-
ranean Power. Serbia would, in that case, become the sentinel of Pan-Slavism, and,
if Russia and Serbia joined hands in the Mediterranean, a grave situation would
arise for Italy. x ,
Regarding the present alliance between Turkey and Soviet Russia as unnatural
and destined to come to an early end, he supposed that Great Britain would desire to
re-enter into close relations with 1 urkey, and to resume hei policy of the last century.
I made no comment upon these observations, nor was it clear whether Signor de
Martino was expressing his personal opinions or reflecting those of his Government.
I am, &c.
CURZON OF KEDLESTON.
[128 r—1]