NEAR EAST CRISIS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17612, 15 November 1922, Page 9

NEAR EAST CRISIS.

TURKISH PEACE CONFERENCE. CONCERTED ALLIED POLICY NEEDED. . PRELIMINARY EXCHANGE OF VIEWS. (By Cfcble—Preas Association— Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 13. It is emphasised that Great Britain throughout has insisted that the Lausanne Conference is bound to prove abortive unless the Allies reach a preliminary agreement. Both France and Italy fully agree with this view. The postponement of the conference is entirely due to the difficulties of arranging a'meeting between Lord Curzon, M. Poincare, and Signor Mussolini, owing to the British elections, the French Budget debate, and the Italian Cabinet reconstruction. Lord Curzon is strongly opposed to meeting at Lausanne on the eve of the conference, on the ground that there will be no time for the Allies to reach unanimity. It is denied that the postponement of the conference is due to any late? Allied or Anglo-French differences on principle. It is regarded as certain that there will be an interchange of views between Lord Curzon and M. Poincare with reference to drafting a programme for Lausanne.

The Paris correspondent of "The Times" discloses that complete COnfusion; existed between the views of Great Britain and France over the postponement of the Lausanne Conference, and relations were strained. The correspondent adds: —"It is with strange reluctance that the French commit themselves to a clear-cut programme. The inclination persists to pass over lightly the Turkish acts of provocation and defiance in Constantinople. It is understood that permission has been granted the French and Italian High Commissioners to agree, if necessary, to the declaration of a state of siege, but the permission is so hedged about with conditions that virtually it is not workable until too late. In any caie it seems moat probable that the moment for such action lias gone, and the proclamation of a state of siege 1b now more likely to precipitate a conflict." PABIS, November 13.

M. Poincare has informed the British Ambassador, Lord Holdings, that he is unable, owing to pressure of Parliamentary business, to go to London. Therefore he suggests that a preliminary conference should.be held at Paris or Lausanne.

The "Petit Parisien" says France considers there must not be any Allied 'engeagement before Lausanne that.would interfere with the complete liberty of each nation. Britain .on., the v other hand demands a formal Allied agreed ment on policy and has even made this a condition of participation in ' the Lausanne Conference. While a compromise is possible, at the moment the two view-points are widely separated.' (Received November 14th, 11.16 p.m.) / LONDON, November, IS; The "Daily Express" # says it is understood that M. Poincare. Signor Mussolini, and Lord Ourzon will confer in London this week, which end> the question of a further postponement of the Lausanne Conference.

PROSPECTS MORE HOPEFUL. ALLIED MINISTEBS TO MEET. (Router's Telaanwna.) (Received November 15th, 1.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 14. The prospects of Allied unity are more hopeful owing to the receipt ny Downing Street of a French Note. A French semi-official message declares that the British and French General Staffs have reached complete agreement on the military terms of the new Turkish Treaty. Negotiations are progressing between London, Paris, and Rome to arrange a meeting of Allied Ministers preparatory to the Lausanne Conference.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DANGERS. DELAY IN PROCLAMATION OF MARTIAL LAW. NECESSITY FOE UNITED DECISION. LONDON, November 13. Though the situation in Constantiniple is still electrical, the Allies have not yet carried out their threat to establish a state of siege. Official despatches to-day show that the Near East situation continues to be grave. Constantinople is described as being on the edge of a volcano. The Allied High Commissioners have warned the Turks that severe measures will bo taken unless they adopt forthwith a more moderate attitude. Evidence is accumulating that the Turks have changed their attitude towards the French. In addition to desecrating graves in Smyrna, they have destroyed a French soap works in Asia Minor, and are renewing their demands regarding the frontier of Syria. The French so far have not taken any steps to reinforce their troops at Constantinople. The "Daily Express's" Constantinople correspondent reports that 140 members of the ex-Sultan's palace staff went in a body to the British Embassy begging protection. They remained at General Headquarters all night. Then one said he was not afraid, and went out and was shot dead immediately. The others were panic-stricken, and are now staying at the Irish Guards' barracks awaiting a Bhip to take them to Malta. The "Daily Telegraph'•" Coaatan-

tinople correspondent says the necessity for the Allies arriving at a united decision is becoming increasingly pressing. Although the Allied represen.tatives have, apparently, been given the necessary powers to participate in a proclamation of martial law, they are so hedged about with conditions that it will be practically inoperative save in extreme circumstances. The first fine flush of determination to maintain Allied rights has faded. The Italians advocate the advisability of solving the problemn by the Allied evacuation of Constantinople. The attitude of Paris also gives little prospect of French backing. In considering the desirability of replying to Eafat Pasha's insolence by a show of strength the British representatives are faced not only by their desire to maintain Allied unity but also by the material factor of the forces at their disposal. Anxioty is felt lest the Turks seize on the postponement of the .Lausanne Conference as an excuse to make further difficulties.

OFFICIAL FRENCH EXPLANATION i (Beceived November 14th, 8.50 p.m.) PABIS, November 13. It is officially explained that the delay in the High Commissioner's taking united action on the subject of martial law at Constantinople is entirely due to the French Government's telegram instructing their Commissioners to act with their colleagues in the matter, being delayed three days in transmission.

THE POSTPONEMENT OF LAUSANNE. ISMET PASHA TO INTERVIEW M. POINCARE. (Reuter's Telegrams.) CONSTANTINOPLE, November 12. Several delegations had left for the Lausanne Conference before the postponement wae announced, including Serbians, Roumanians, and Turks. Ismet Pasha, who has arrived at Lausanne, has decided to proceed to Paris. Apparently he will occupy the interim in conversing with French statesmen. (Ausfoalian and N.Z. Cable Association.) PARIS, November 18. Ismet Pasha, commander of the Turkish Western Armies, interviewed at Lausanne, said the postponement of the conference was a serious mistake. The Turkish Army and people could not be kept in a state of anxiety and intenw strain. There was the gravest danger of incidents producing a conflict between the Turks and the Allies. M. Poincare has invited Ismet Pasha, to interview him in Paris pending the opening of the Lausanne Conference. The "Echo National" says the invitation is a mistake which will result in setting Britain against France, as. it may be said that M. Poincare gave an interview to the Turka while hesitating to concede the same to Lord Ourzon. The invitation may unfavourably impress the new British, Ministers who have proved so weUidifipogedvtOi wards France. DANGER OF DELAY. HIGH COMMISSIONERS' WARNING (Received November 14th, 8.30 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, November 18. The Allied High Commissioners have telegraphed their Governments declaring that the attitude of the Angora Assembly indicates that the postponement of the Lausanne Conference will gravely compromise the suspension of hostilities. They emphasise that the date of meeting should be fixed immediately and unchangeably. ISMET PASHA'S WARNING. A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY. (Received November 14th, 8.80 p.m.) PARES, November 13. Advices from Lausanne state that Ismet Pasha professed to be astounded when he learned of the postponement of the conference. He declared that the Allies had assumed a serious responsiuiity.

"I tell you frankly," he said, "this delay is dangerous. It is not easy to hold back a whole nation and a whole army in the uncertain state in which the armistice stands. The tension is intolerable for the whole nation, which asks only for peace on the word of France. Because of my confidence in you, I have done a thing very few generals would be able to do. I stopped my victorious and enthusiastic troops suddenly on the lines arbitrarily drawn. I actually told them: 'You must go no farther. There is the sea and Scutari and you dream of. I order you to camp on this very spot. At the same time I promise you Turkey shall be reborn independent and sovereign. You will find you have not fought in vain for so many long and weary months.' I am now asked to fulfil these promises. I left the armies behind me in order to make peace possible. I am now told: 'Not yet. We have to arrange matters.' Let me ask your generals what effects this fresh delay will have on the Turkish people and on the sovereign Assembly representing it. The situation is inextricably confused at Constantinople and fighting may break out there. Would it not be better, seeing that Constantinople has been promised to us, to leaive the sole responsibility for order in our hands ? These delays are fatal. Let me say we Turks are a frete people, not a colony. We are equals, not vassals." Ismet indignantly denied that the Angora Assembly had demanded the closing of the French schools in Asia Minor. He, said that, on the contrary, "we hav« made the French language compulsory."