TURKISH PEACE PROBLEMS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17625, 30 November 1922, Page 7

TURKISH PEACE PROBLEMS.

MOSUL OILFIELDS. DISCUSSIONS AT LAUSANNE. (By Cable— Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and .Z* C&bio Association.) LAUSANNE, November 29. The confereiice is making no progress. Lord Curzon declares that Great Britain agrees with Mr R. W. Childs, the American representative, concerning the zones of influence. Turkey regards the tripartite agreement of 1920 as non-existent.

Great Britain's policy with reference to the oilfields in Mosul is that there shall be an "open door,'' regulated by contracts and adjudications. lsmet Pasha demands Turkey's complete economic independence and a division of the Ottoman debt pro rata among the ceded territories. The is6ue of the conversation between Lord Curzon and lsmet Pasha depends on the arrival of a courier from Angora. Meanwhile the Turks insist on the surrender of the Mosul province. They acknowledge they have opened negotiations with America on the subject.

THE RUSSIAN DEMANDS. ALLIED DELEGATES' REPLY. (Received November 29th, 7.25 p.m.) LAUSANNE, November 28. Lord Curzon, M. Barrere and Signor Garroni considered the Russian delegates' demand for full participation in the discussion of all questions before the Conference, on a basis of equality with the other Powers, and, it is understood, rejected it, but decided to bring the Straits question before the Conference immediately to permit the Russians to state their viewa..

In a Note to the British Government in September, the Soviet Government, ctoscussing the problem of the fcjtraits, said: In connection with this the .Russian Government feels it necessary to gards the control of the Straits. Rui*sia oannot consent to the tetraits being opened to the battleships of any country, and, in particular, that Great Britain, with the consent of her Allies, should have control of the Straits without the consent and against the wishes of the Powers who have (vital interests in the Black Sea, and who should have the right of decision as to the fate of the Straits. It is true that all the prewar conventions regarding the Straits havo lost their force; nevertheless, they were all drawn up with the participation of Russia, and consequently any new regime which is established even de facto in the Straits without consultation with Russia cannot be recognised by the Russian Government. The only international agreement since the war on the question of the Straits, which, is in foroe, is the RussoTurkish Treaty, concluded in Moscow in 1921. This treaty provides for the free passage through the Straits only of the mercantile fleets of all nations. _ The right of establishing any final international iiatute concerning the Straits is recognised by this treaty as belonging solely to the States situated upon the shores of the Black Sea. This principle is. in fact, admitted by all the Black Sea States with the exception of Bulgaria and Roumania, the. official point of view of whom is unknown to us, but who would hardly consent to be left aside in any settlement of this question. Russia, Turkey, the Ukraine, _ and Georgia, to whom belongs practically the whole of the Black Sea. coast, can not admit the right of any other Government to interfere in the _ settlement of the question of the Straits, and will maintain the of view nhovo set out, even if the contrary point of view is "backed by military or naval superiority. THE TURKISH CLAIMS. REBUFFS FROM FRANCE.

(Received November 29th. 10J-5 p.m.) LONDON, November 28.

Mr M. I>onohoe, the "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Lausanne, says the Franco-British understanding is still proof against the combined S'ovietKemalist assaults. Ismet Pasha, is evidencing an acrimonious mood, and is reproaching the French for treachery in refusing to adhere to the unofficial accord negotiated by M. Franklin-Bouil-lon. According to the Kemalists, M. Franklin-Bouillon promised that all their terms would he accepted, instead of which they 1 have obtained practically nothing. The Kemalists requested that M. Franklin-Bouillon be sent to I*lll- - to assist them. M. Barrere refused to entertain this demand. The Kemalists then commissioned Hamid Bey to go to Paris and interview M. Poincare. who also refused to consider the proposal. The Kemalists now talk of publishing M. Franklin-Bouillon's written promise to support the Turkish claims. Meanwhile M. Franklin-Bouil-lon is suffering from a severe cold, which is understood to be diplomatic rather than physical.

FOREIGN COMMERCE RESTRICTIONS. ANGORA'S BBPLY TO ALLIES. (Received November 29th, 5.5 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, November 28. Replying to the Allied Commissioners regarding the restrictions placed on the commerce of foreigners in Smyrna and ether liberated districts, the Angora Government says it does not recognise the capitulations. The treatment of foreigners must, it says, be governed by the laws of the National Assembly. BRITISH NAVAL ADVISES. (Received November 29th, 7.60 p.m.) IX)NDON. November 28. Vice-Admiral Sir Roger Keyes has gone to Lausanne as expert adviser on the naval clauses in the new Treaty. [Sir Roger Keyes was in charge of the .(Continued at foot of next column.)

submarine service 1914-16, Chief of the Staff of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, 1915, and was in charge of the operations against Zeebrugge and Ctetend, April, 1918. He commanded the Battle Cruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet 1919-21.1

ASIA MINOR CHRISTIANS. APPALLING PLIGHT OF REFUGEES. (By Cable—Presa Association—Copyright.) (Australian, and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 28. The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily Telegraph" says ho fears there will be terrible loss of life in the great trek Black Sea and Mediterranean ports. Piteous messages foreshadow effects which will shock the world. It is understood the Angora Government has ordered all Christians to leave within a month, and 1,500,000 are either preparing for departure or are on the road in long drawn-out columns. They are having an appalling time crossing the snow-covered country.

Christians numbering 10,000, with 2000 orphans, have left Sivas, while a wireless message from Samsun to the American naval authorities says:— "Can you take 1000 mountain children? If not, it means their end." An American destroyer at Trebizond has wirelessed: "Cannot hold up evacuation of town much longer. "We are overwhelmed with refugees from the interior. Unless additional transport is immediately provided, thousands will perish."