TURKS, LAST CHANGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1922, Page 5

TURKS , LAST CHANGE.

TO MAKE THEIR CHOICE CONFERENCE MAY END. RUSSO-TURKISH PROPOSALS. I DEFENCES OF THE STRAITS. (Ef Cable.—Press Association.—CopyrtgßUj (Received IO.W a.m.) LAUSANNE, December 18. The Marquis C'urzon informed the Turks that the Straits discussion could no go on longer. The lust meeting of tlie commission would be held to-morrow, when tlie Turks must decide to accept the Allied proposals or the conference would terminate. The Russo-Turkish proposals on the Straits question provide that the Dardanelles ehall only be opened if Turkey oan maintain the military situation, and it the inviolability of the frontier of demilitarised Thrace be guaranteed. The Sea of Marmora should bo excluded ana no restriction placed on Turkish defences therein. Tlie islands of Samothrace and Tenedos should form an integral part of the Dardanelles. Turkey opposes a Greek naval hase at» I.emnos. Turkey's plans regarding non-Moslem minorities provide that the minorities shall enjoy tlie same rights and liberty as the majority, particularly the right of association. The right* wouU be controlled by the League of Nations, and Turkey would submit differences to the International Court of Justice. They also ask that the rights accorded to nonMbslems in Turkey be accorded by neighbouring States to Moslem minorities in their territories. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

THE ANGORA VIEW. POWERS AND rHE STRAITS.! STILL READY TO FIGHT. {Received 11.30 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, December 18. Speaking to the National Assembly at Angora, Reouf Bey, President of the Council of Commissars, said that the Government was prepared to accept the Powers' standpoint with regard to the Straits provided the security of Constantinople and the Sea of Marmora was guaranteed. Tile Government would not accept anything resembling the capitulations, and refused all liability for the costs of occupation. He asserted that the Powers by occupying Constantinople and exciting the Greeks to land in Smyrna had violated the armistice of Mudrog. He , alleged that Armenian labourers, employed by the British, were raping Turkish women on Gallipoli. Reouf Bey's references to Mr. Lloyd George and M. Clemenceau were interrupted by a chorus of "May he be I cursed." He concluded that tire Government desired peace, but possessed an army second to' none which was prepared to carry out its duty.—(A. and N.Z.)'

DIRECTED AGAINST RUSSIA. COMPLAINT OF THE SOVIET. LAUSANNE, December 19. Lively exchangee took place at the meeting of the Straits Commission of the Near East Conference to-day. The Russians, under the pretest of their exclusion from the work of the experts, unexpectedly submitted pr<-' : ')ale embodying M. Tchitcherin's " previously announced views, arid demanded that they should form the basis of discussion. M. Tchitcherin declared that the Allied plan was solely directed against Russia, and rendered peace illusory. The Marquis Curzon, supported by M. Barrere and Signor Garroni, formally refused the Russian demands. He declared that the dilatoriness of the Russians and Turks wae intolerable, and was delaying.the conference indefinitely. The Turks have circulated counterproposals demanding that no foreign navy shall ever send through the Straits warshipe exceeding in tonnage the Turkish navy lying off Constantinople. They declare that the League of Nations' guarantee of the demilitarisation of the Straits is insufficient.— (A. and N.Z.)