THE MARCH CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1922, Page 7

THE MARCH CONFERENCE.

. i TERMS TO TIIRKEY. DEMJ.LITABISED ZONK The conference, of the French, British and Italian Foreign Ministers in March last issued the following statement:--"The interest- of peace and the safety of the future demand that Europe shall never again lie exposed to the perils aud sacrifices whieli were imposed upon her in 1014 and the succeeding years by the forcible closure of the Dardanelles. The countless lives that were there pour.il out, the stupendous efforts that were entailed, must not hate 1-een cxpende.l ii: vain. Tl>e Turks will lie readmitted to the Asiatic shore of tbe Dardanelles under which will provide for the existence of a broad demilitarised zone in order to obviate the possibility of any hostile military preparations in that tjuart«?r. Hut an Allied f.in-e must be placed, and must remain, in occupation of the Gallipoli Peninsula iv order to safeguard the tYrie and unimpeded entrance of the Straite. This also will be a demilitarised zone. The Allied garrison will consist of a force sumcient. to secure the entrance to tiie Dardanelles, j "The navigation of tiie Straits will i be placed, as already proposed, under j the control of an International Com-; mission under a. Turkish President, on . which it. i< hoped, as time passes, that all the principal States who are inter- \ estcd in the commerce or navigation of! the Straits will be represented. "The demilitarised zone will be identical with the existing Banjak of Chanak. Xo further demilitarisation is proposed on the southern shores of Cue Marmora with the exception of the Peninsula of Artaki. On the Asiatic shores of the Bospborus the demilitarised zone will be identical with the existing neuiral zone. The Islands of Lenmos, Inibros. Tenedos. Saniothraee. and Mi ty lene outride the Dardanelles an-1 all the islands iv the Marmora will equally he demilitarised. ""Having affirmed their desire 'to. re-est.-ii.lish the Turkish nation and the Turkish dominion iv the areas which may fairly be regarded as their own. j with the historical and renowned capital of Constantinople as tbe centre, and witn I such powers as may enable them to reI new a vigyrous aud independent national I existence,' the Foreign Ministers proposed to safeguard tin. Turkish capital Ibv amend.rig the frontier line in Ka-siorn Thrace and demilitarising almost Cue j whole of that province on both the Creek j and Turkish sides of tbe frontier.

ADRIANOPI.K. i

"It has been considered."' the o'licinl statement proceeded, "whether any special provision should he male for the town .»f Adriaueple, which ii has been found impossible to sever from the stirrounding territories of Kastern Thrace. Smyrna, which will revert t.. Turkey, and Adrianople. which will U- retained by t'ne Creeks, arc in somewhat analogous position, 'lhe Powers will be fjuite 1 willing to enter into friendly communi- ! cation with the Turkish and (Ireek Goveminent*, with a view to the conclusion! of a friendly agreement upon conditions | which will guarantee a lull and fairj share to tiie non-Turkish and the uon-Ov;t-k elements in the populations in tbe administration of the tw., citit-.-, and will further safeguard the religion? buildings and institution? of A-Jranople." '"T'ne three Miu'eter* are not so vijn as to suppose that this .oiutiuu .-t" the "i'hracian proideni will be "aruily a.-rep-ted by either party. Ti.e p.-biem Admits «.f no stub easy =- >I -1 ". ■ ■«i They can only commend it. to :1k- ;u ■" .- opinion of the world as ine prop..-,::.>... which seems to them -... b- i.iost consistent alike with justice and wiiii iiie 'a--- : of tiie case. CO.YSTA.VnNUI'I.K'S I'LTIRi.. "Passing to (. i.iistant'ui..;.!■■. th.' three , Governments desired t - coinirm t'.ttir previously expressed williii-H.-- '~ with- i diaw altogether the tliivi't that n.i« I made at the time of the treaty of. Sevres to revoke u{ some future iI:Ue ■ the retrocession of the cipital lo thel Turks. They confirm the restoration "f • that city io \hc full ni.-'horit v of the Government u f the Sultan: in.l they are further willing to engage that tiie Allied force?, by whom i: i- at present ; occupied, .shall be altogether withdrawn (.iter tin- ratification -.1" 'he ir-'.ity of peace. "The Turkish Covertim-il will Ininvited to garris..n the city with a larger force than \va« contemplated in the Treaty .if Sevres. There r.-maitis .|iicstions of t'ne future armed forces of tbe Turkish Starte, the financial independence which v will euioy. and the suggested modification or surrender of the capitulary rights which arc oujoye-1 byforeigners. "'Concerning tiie armed for..- of Turkey. the Alli.'d Pow.vs nrunable to depart from the iirtliciples wliicli i; lias been .. found necessary to enforce in the treaties that have been con.-lud-ul with all the other Stat.-, recently at. war. or to : admit the continuance of the t-y.-tem "f 1 cuasvriptiun. They will, however, be j prepared t.< consider witii the Turkish 1 Government iv an amicable spirit the (determination of the period iv which the I voluntary svsteui oi recruiting must be I established in that country. ! "As to the numerical strength of the i Turkish forces, it is proposed to allow a ! vary appreciable augmentation of tiie ! figures which were contained in the j Treaty of Sevres, or were afterwards ] suggested in London in 11)21. The foi'i'.-- ---; now officially proposed are. Gendarmerie. j 45,0(10; regular army. 40.ll')0; .r a ; «rand total of So.UiRJ men -a total which J is very markedly i" e\.e-.s of the ."lO.cnn designated in the Treat \ of Ivvrts." j Further important proposals w -re i made with regard to finance, trade. ! capitulations, and other matter-.