THE NEAR EAST.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17747, 26 April 1923, Page 10

THE NEAR EAST.

LAUSANNE CONFERENCE. FIRM WILL FOR PEACE. (BT CABLE —rRESS ASSOCIATION—COPTEIQHT.J IAITSTKAUAN AKI> N.B. CABLS ikSSOdATIOJT.) (Received April 2oth, S.CT p.m.) LAUSANNE, April 24. Sir H. G. M. Ilumbold, in opening tho Pence Conference, said he understood that Ismet Pasha desired to get home for the festival of Bairam on Mav 25th. He hoped tho delegates would achieve a speedy peace. The American delegate explained that America did not intend to te a party to the Treaty, but he was there to protect her interests, also the open door policy. Jsmet Pasha said that Turkey would show a firm will to promote peace. PROGRESS BEING MADE. (Received April 25th, 11.5 p.m.) LAUSANNE, April 24. At the first'meeting of the Political and Territorial Commission, Sir H. <5. M. Rumbold, gained an jmportant point, the Turks accepting the status quo regarding the delimitation of Irak frontere, this leaves England and Turkey to negotiate an agreement, failing which within twelve months the League of Nations will decide. The TujJfish request to fix the Thracian frontier as the left bank of the Maritza was strongly opposed by M. Venia©los, who demanded that the question should be reserved. The Turks requested the reopening of Article 1 and demanded that the Allies should evacuate Constantinople. Sir 11. <i- M. Ilumbold protested that it was impossible before the Treaty was signed and ratified by the Allies. The Turks yielded ungraciously. FRANCE AND SYRIA. A SIGNIFICANT APPOINTMENT. LONDON, April 23. The "Pall Mall Gazette" draws attention to the significance of the appointment of General Weygand, Marshal Foch's Chief of Staff, as Com-* mander-in-Chief in Syria, in (view of tiny unfavourable outcome of the Conference at Lausanne. It is understood that General "Weygand accepted the ap-. pointment only on condition that sufficient troops are placed at hia disposal to hold Syria. [lsmet Pasha, en route to the Lausanne Conference, said a f©w days ago that Turkey was disposed to make concessions if the Allies evinced any goodwill, "but it we find at Lausanne the same opposition as last time we shall immediately leave the Conference, which act will mean not onlv the beginning of enmity, but very likely the commencement of a new war. We are desirous of concluding peace, but we want a worthy peace."]*