SITUATION IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17608, 10 November 1922, Page 9

SITUATION IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

GREAT TENSION PREVAILING. ( ™xTo~ d Novemb «r 9th, 7.45 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, November 8. .."???* Pa6ha held a conference with thoAlhedH.ghComm'ssioners and then lett for Angora, where he will report to his Government on the crisis. The Bourse is closed and the Turkish exchange is depreciating nourlv. Merchants ere cancelling orders. The new Customs tariff has disorganised trade. The new Government is in a deplorahle state financially and cannot nav its officials regularly. Dr. Nansen, relief agent of the League of Nations, has asked Angora to negotiate for an exchange of Turkish nationals with Greece, but the Kemalists expect that the negotiations will prove abortive owing to Greek opposition to the evacuation of Constantinople by 400,0C0 Greeks collectively possessing enormous wealth. If the Greeks go, other foreigners must follow, which will rub the city's commerce. The Grand Vizier has sent a final appeal for reconciliation between the Porte and AngoraThe greatest tension prevails in tho city. A clash seems inevitable if the British forces guarding the Galata bridge continue to prevent Turks from traversing the Grand Rue. Concealed machine-guns are posted at the end of the bridge and in houses overlooking it. The guard has been strengthened by motor-cars armed with machine-guns. PARIS, November 8. The Constantinople correspondent of the ''Petit Parisien" states that Kemalists expelled the French Consul from Brusa. They informed him that Turkey was still at war with France, therefore the staff of the Consulate must leave, but could return in two days. A French military despatch bearer from Brusa to Constantinople was arrested and imprisoned. On Ismet Pasha's arrival at Constantinople the Allies will hand him an ultimatum demanding that the Nationalists observe the armistice conditions. Contradictory reports nro current regarding the Sultan. One says that he has been carried off by the Kemalists, another that he is on board a British warship. Kemalists attempted to examine parcels in an Italian post office at Galata but were prevented by Italian troops. Kemalists have seized the Customs receipts and notified all European employees that they must leave. POSITION MOST GRAVE. "STEADILY GETTING BEYOND CONTROL." (Received November 9th, 11.40 p.m.) / PARIS, November 9. France regards the situation as being most grave. The immediate meeting of the Lausanne Peace Conference is regarded as essential, as the situation is steadily getting beyond control. . The naval forces and the Allied troops at Constantinople are computed at 30,000 British and 5000 French. TURKS CUT CABLE. BRITISH SOLDIERS MURDERED. (By Gable—Prese Association—Copyright.) (Reutor'a Telsgaomß.) (Received November 9th, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 9. Dißquiet is felt owing to the complete absence of news from Constantinople since a message was received announcing that the Turks had reiterated their demands. Messages now coming by indirect routes show that the silence is due to the Turks cutting the cable between Chanak and Bokale. Martial Law has not yet been proclaimed. Two British soldiers were murdered at Kissim Pasha. ANGORA'S ARROGANCE. WIDE EXTENSION OF CLAIMS. ("The Times.") (Received November 9th, 9.10 p.m.) PARIS, November 8. The Turkish Nationalists demand, in addition to the abolition of the capitulations, a plebiscite in Western Thrace, the return of Mosul (Mesopotamia), the complote independence of Turkey, and an indemnity of £240,000,000 from Greece.