NEAR EAST PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17607, 9 November 1922, Page 9

NEAR EAST PROBLEM.

ANGORA'S AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE. administration of CONSTANTINOPLE. THE NEW REGIME. Br Cib'e Pre.»s Association —Copyright.) 'Australian ar,d X.Z. C'abio Ajsociation.) CONSTANTrNOL'LE. November 6. It is officially stated that complete unanimity exists between the Allied Higli Commissioners and Allied Government's, who are co-operating firmly in the resistance of all demands and actions infringing the Mudania Convention The Angora Authorities have notified the Allies of further encroachments on their authority. 15rend will cost at least double its present price, as a result of the new Customs tariff which the Angora Government is imposingThere will also be a substantial increase in tho prices of other goods. Angora has also, notined the mixed court constituted under the Capitulations that it must cease to function. The International Sanitary Commission, to which tlie Allies contribute, has been informed tnat the Angora Government has assumed control of t.he sanitary administration. Finally, regulations have been issued tii at no passports from Constantinople «hall be issued to Ottoman subjects •vithout a Turkish police vise. This means that no Ottoman can leave the city without Angora's permission. Tho regulation is possibly designed to prevent an exodus of supporters of the Sultan and men available for military service. The High Commissioners have decided that this is a form of tyranny which cannot be tolerated while the Allies are responsible for law and order in Constantinople. The Angora authorities have arrested Kemal Bey, an ex-Minister and editor of a leading anti-Nationalist paper which ceased publication some time ago. The Allies have not yet sent a 'reply to other notifications, whioh relate to matters outside the scope of the High Commissioners' authority, and must be reserved for the consideration of their respective Governments. Some of Angora's military demands refused by the Allied High Commissioners are officially regarded as mere feelers, while some of the latest actions of the* Angora Government, such as the increased Customs tariff and new passport regulations, are the logical sequence of Angora's assumption of authority. The attempted suppression of the mixed court, however, is regarded most seriously. How far Angora intends to pursue the policy taken up \yill probably be seen in the course of twentyfour hours, following the High Commissioners' prompt refusal of the military demand. - llie Constantinople correspondent of "The Times" says it—is ■ obvious thatthe arrival'of B#fat Pasha to take over the Governorship of Thrace was a bluff designed to Jhrow dust in the eyes of the High Commissioners. His true 'objective was to overthrow the Sultan and win over the troops at the Sultan's disposal, and "thus prepare the way for complete domination of the city. . In this the Nationalists have been completely successful. There is no longer any correct distinction between the Governments of Constantinople and Angora. , , PARIS, November 7. The "Petit Parisien" reports that M. Poincar4 conferred with Marshal Foch, who expressed the opinion that; if the Turks were as intoxicated by victory as to violate their pledges, it would be relatively easy for the Allies to maintain themselves on the European eide of the Straits. Although there is anxiety <in. Constantinople, {here -is no reason to suppose that the Turks will resist the Allies and expose themselves tb a measure of foroe. Tho "Jou!nal deri oebata" says that ten Turkish vessels have disembarked Kemalist soldiers at Lapsaki, on the east side of the Dardanelles, five miles south "of Gallipoli. Their object, apparently, is to seise Gallipoli, the civil control of which will be transferred by Greeks on November 20th to the French troops in occupation. "• The Constantinople correspondent of. the "New York Herald" says thut it is evident that the Turks believe tho British are paralysed by the political situation and Incttpable of offering military resistance. . Hafat Pasha, by his assumption of the eo-called civil authority, has obtained control of the Sultan's Guard of 6000 troops, with considerable reserves, all of whom have donned the Nationalist cockade. The Nationalists thus have a trained army ready for action in the city. They have also been recruiting in Thrace. Consequently the Lausanne Peace Conference will meet under strong Turkish military pressure. Tbe issue seems more doubtful than ever. The representative of the "Chicago Tribune" in Stamboul reports that Kafat> Pasha has closed the Porte and announced that, the city is no longer more than a province. ( ATTITUDE OF THE ALLIES. WABNING TO NATIONALISTS. ■'■ ' 1 LONDON, November 7. The Constantinople correspondent of the 'Tfculy Telegraph" reports that the High Commissioners have informed Hamid Bey that, though the change in the regime at Constantinople was an internal alfair in which the Allied Powers did not wish to meddle while th' ; occupation continued, the Nationalisadministration must be controlled nt> hitherto. There could not be a chang. of system because the Allies were re . sponsible for the maintenance of order ■

and must assure the safety of their troope. Hamid Bey replied that he would transmit these views to the Angora Foreign Minister. A similar communication was addressed to R-afat Pasha, the High Commissioners intimating that his attitude waa impossible. They said the Allies were in Constantinople by virture of the Mudros armistice of 191%, not as a result of the Mudania Convention. If the capital was to be administered by the Nationalists, they must conform to the existing control by police gendarmerie and troops. Arrests such as those carried out by Kemal PasSa's followers could not be tolerated. CONSTANTINOPLE, November t. Tile Generals had a three hours' interview with Jlafat Pasha this morning. Sir Charles Harington pointed out that Rafat Pasha was apparently trying to usurp the authority of tne Allied Generals, and seemed to forget the existence of the armistice of Mudros, which the Mudania Convention had not superseded. The Allied Generals were unable to divest themselves of authority, and there could only be one control, namely, that of the Allies. Constantinople would eventuaJly (probably within a few -weeks) be handed jrer to the Nationalists, but meanwhile the Allies would not stirronder their responsibility for the maintenance of order nnd security. M. Charpy, on behal? of France, and Signor Mom't.-elli, on behalf of Italy, endorsed Sir Charles Harington's declaration. Rafat Pasha, replying, expressed ignorance concerning the Notes which the Angora representative had handed to the Allied High Commissioners. Hf said the notes were diplomatic. He was anxious to work in agreement with the Allies, but he was unable to accept any form of control. He promised to ask for instructions from Angora, and consult the Allied Generals to-morrow. The meeting therefore ended in a deadlock, but there is reason to believe that the Kejnalists will climb down before the strong, united attitude of the Allies. DEMONSTRATIONS IN CONSTANTINOPLE. BRITISH SOLDIERS STABBED. CONSTANTINOPLE, November 6. Apart from official circles, there is much nervousness in European quarters. Business men and others are ready at a moment's notice to quit the city 1 . The populace continues to make demonstrations, and anyone not wearing the fez is liable to he insulted and roughly handled. Later. Demonstrations in the Asiatic quar- 1 tera of Constantinople took a nasty turn yesterday, when the windows of. i Christians' houses were smashed, and ' two British soldiers were stabbed, necessitating the arrest of two Turkish police. Two British soldiers were also stabbed at Galata by demonstrators, who were shouting "Down with Britain; France, and the Allies." (Received November Bth, 10.20 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, November 8. There is a panic on/the Bourse. The Turkish pound has fallen to 1000 to the £ sterling. The British Embassy is crowded with anla-Kemalist Turks pleading for passports to enable them to leave before they are taken to lemid for trial by oourt-martial. ; There ia a threatening situation at Glianak. Although the Turkish, troops are keeping behind the lines, their gendarmerie, who are really troops with ft different label, have advanced practically against the British wires, actually preventing the British patrols from advancing beyond the three-mile limit. Sir Charles Harington is taking up) tho matter with Ismet Pasha. • UNITY OF THE ALLIES. STATEMENTS BY PRIME ministers. ' ' ] (Received November Bth, p.m.) PARIS, November 7. Speaking in the Chamber of Deputies, M. Point-are declared that the Allied occupation of Constantinople must continue until the Peace Treaty had been signed. General Pelle had been instructed to co-operate fully with the British and Italian Commissioners in 1 the maintenance of law and order, i (Received November Bth, 8.20 p.m.) I LONDON", November 7. Mr Bon&r Lt*w, speaking in South London, and referring to the recrudescence of the crisis in the, Near East, emphasised ' that the High Commissioners and Generals were now absolutely united, whioh was not previously the case. I THE KHALIFATE QUESTION. POSITION OP THE SULTAN". I i CONSTANTINOPLE, November 7. The Sultan, when he visited Sir Charles Baring** as Khalif he was head of the whole Moslem world, and was therefore unwilling to accept the, decision of the National The A«ra Khan, writing i>t the "Matin," says elevation .to the Khdifate is the result of an election, therefore deposition » not ary. If a Khalif, other than the oldest representative of tho Othman me were nominated, and election must be made by all the of th* (Received November Bth, 8.20 p.m.) CAIRO, November 7. nent indicates that Frances claimto be the chief protector weakened by the action rf her Kemalutt

proteges, which, earnest Moslems fear, betokens a rupture of Islamic unity through the advent of rival claims for the Khalifate. DELHI, November 7. Mos'.em opinion is very reserved regarding the action of the Kemalists in depriving the Su'.tan of his temporal and spiritual powers, but. judging by the panegyrics on Mustnpl:a Ivtmal Pasha, it seems probable that efforts will bo made to find excuses for accepting his action as binding. One quarteri suggests that a conference representa- ! t-ive of the Moslem world should elect a Khali f, but it is doubtful if this is practicable, or if the Kemalists would accept a conference. THE PEACE CONFERENCE. POSTPONEMENT OF OPENING. (By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received November Bth, 8.20 p.m.) PARIS, November 7. Lord 'Hardinge, British Ambassador, handed M. Poincare a request to postpone the Lausanne Conference till November 27 th. It is understood the French Government regards a postponement for more thiin for two or three days as extremely dangerous. (Received November Bth, 10.5 p.m.) PARIS. November 8. 'M. Poincare, in reply to the British proposals to postpone the Lausanne Conference, emphasised that the situation was daily becoming worse. Delay in holding the Conference was fraught with disaster. He appro fed a postponement until November 18th, but further delaj would be most dangerous. Twenty thousand French troops on tho Gallipoli coast have been ordered to stand fast. (Received November Bth, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 8. The opening of the Lausanne Peace Conference has been postponed to November 27th, owing to new demands of the Angora Government, which are tantamount to an attempt to drive the Allies out of Turfcey without waiting for tho decisions of the Lausanne Conference. Every treaty obligation is overridden by the Kemalist demands, which include abolition of the capitulations, the Customs agreements, and the Public Debt Administration. Angora officials are pocketing the three per cent, of the Customs duties which was earmarked for the service of the Ottoman debt, Angora having dismissed the debt officials. PARIS, November 7. M. Barrier©, Ambassador in Rcme, and M. Bomp&rd, formerly Ambassador to Turkey, have been appointed the French delegates to the Lausanne Conference. [A previous message from London said:—Owing to the British elections , and the change of Government in Italy, it is regarded as impracticable for the Conference to meet on November 13th, and a Postponement for a week is most probable.] BRITISH CABINET MEETING. TURKISH DEMANDS REFUSED. (Received November Bth, 10.6 p.m.) > LONDON, November 8. On Tuesday at midnight, owing to the gravity of the Near Eastern situation, Mr Bonar Law called a hurried Cabinet meeting for this evening, including Lord Derby, who was recalled to London. Cabinet decided to reject the Turkish demand for the Allied evacuation. The British troops are to remain in Constantinople. MARTIAL LAW IFNEOESSARY. PARIS, November 7. > The Foreign. Office states that the Allied Commissioners in Constantinople have been authorised to proclaim martial la** if necessary; ( POLICY OF FIRMNESS NEEDED. ! MB LLOYD GEORGE'S WARNING. LONDON, November 7. i Mr Lloyd George, speaking at New- ■ castle, said the Near Eastern question was again showing signs of inflamma- ; tion. It had to be handled carefully. A great conflagration had. been prevented by the admirable conduct of the British troops under : General Sir , Charles Harington. There would have been no troops but for the late Government's prompt action. "We stood without France or Italy, and we accepted the responsibility. Now the Turk says: 'We have got rid of that fellow, let us look at the new Ministry,' and he has come to the conclusion that the time is opportune for another try-on. If the Government stand by the flag, we shall be wholeheartedly behind them. The only way to deal with the Oriental is to stand up to him. If the Government is not firm, war will Weak out in the Balkans and spread as it did in 1914. The new Government must waive up now. Sleepers are all right on railways, but not in foreign politics." 1 UNITED STATES POLICY. MOBAL SUPPORT FOR ALLIES. (By Cable—Pre» Association—Copyright.) (Australian, and N.Z. Cablo Association.) . (Received November Bth, 7.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 7. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" reports that information from White House outlines tho following United States policy towards the most recent development in the Turkish situation. All sources of American diplomacy will be utilised to prevent the Turks from, gaining permanent control of the Dardanelles. The Administration, however, while cooperating with the Allies in every "easible way to checkmate any Turk:sh attempt to alter the internationa haracter of the Dardanelles, is not prepared to employ military or navaforces. Any fighting -will have to be

done by the Allies alone. The Administration feels that public- sentiment in the United States would not support such a war, and sitice Mr Hughes is opposed to empty threats he will not make a gesture which he cannot back up. THE FRONTIER OF IRAK. RUMOURS IN BAGDAD. (By Cable—Prew Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received November Bt'n, 8.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 7. 1 The "Morning Post's'' Bagdad correspondent says a statement that the j Kemalists intend to demand the re- 1 turn of Mosul has alarmed the Irak ' Government. An intensive- pro-Kema-list propaganda is proceeding here. The ' Government fears that Mr Bonar Law's. Cabinet, in order to placate the demand .for a reduction of Britain's com- ' mitments abroad, may agree to the re- 1 turn of Mosul, and even Bagdad, to 1 tho Turks on the ground of economy 1 to Britain. 1 ____________ j . . .