EASTERN QUESTION

‘The Near Eastern Question is the name given to the problem of what is to become of that portion of Eastern Europe until recently under the authority of the Turks. The question from time to time was rendered acute by Ru ia’s claim to be the protector of the Christian populations in that area, as also by her aim to be regarded as the heir to the ‘Sick Man’ of Europe. In the 19th cent. first, Greece became independent, then Rumania, Serbia, Monte negro, and Bul-| zari a. The Turk. revolutions of 1908 and 909 seemed to promise reforms, but the “Young Turks’ proved as tyrannical as| their predece ors. In 1912 matters! reached a Crisis between Turkey and the Balkan states. As a result of the wars of the Balkan League a fresh settlement was made, and the Turk. dominions in Europe were further contracted. The Great Powers had stood aloof, but Austria, the tool of Germany, was under suspicion of scheming to gain predominant influence in the Balkans, and the tension of the situation was only tempcrarily allayed till the outbreak of the Great War brought about a| universal upheaval. The treaty with Turkey May 1920 ostensibly settled the Near Eastern Question by reducing Turkey in Europe to Constantinople and the environs up to the Chatalja lines and the area of Lake Derkos. In Asia Minor Greece received the Smyrna and Aidin districts; Pal3stine, Syria, and Me so pot am i a became_ mandate territories; Armenia and the Hejaz were. made independent; and the ‘autonomy’ of Kurdistan was sanctioned. By the terms of the treaty (see Turxmy) her army and navy were practically extinguished; she could not raise taxes, frame a Budget, sanction expenditure, or grant conce ions; all financial arrangements were vested in a commi ion, on which she has only a consultative voice. This treaty, however, was never signed by Turkey, and the victories won by the Turkish Nationalist Army over Greece in Asia Minor in 1922 brought about an entirely new condition. Turkey demanded po e ion of the territory taken from her by the Treaty of Sevres, po e ion of Constantinople, and other conditions. A conference was held at Lausanne in January and February, 1923, between Turkey and the European powers. By the treaty there signed all Turkey’s demands were practically granted. See Lausannn CoNrerENncn; TURKEY. The Far Eastern Question has reference primarily to the decay of China and the rise of Japan. The opposition of Ru ia, France, and Germany prevented Japan from securing large ce ions of Chin. territory, but in 1897-8 leases of certain strategic areas were obtained by Germany, Ru ia and Britain. A complete transformation was brought about by the alliance concluded between Britain and Japan in 1902, and subsequently renewed, After the Great War Japan remained in po e ion of the former Ger. base at Kiaochow, and obtained the mandate for ex-Ger. Pacific islands N. of the equator. Questions relating to the Far Fast were among those considered at the Conference for the Limitation of Armaments, held in Washington in 1921-2. As a result of this conference Japan made conce ions to China including the return of Shantung, and the other powers signed a treaty which placed China’s position in a much more favorable situation than before. See Cutwa; OonFERENCE ON THE LimiTaTION oF AnMaMENTS.