TURKS OBDURATE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 120, 6 February 1923, Page 7

TURKS OBDURATE

REFUSE TO SIGN TREATY CAPITULATIONS AND FINANCE CAUSE BREAKDOWN BRITISH DELEGATES LEAVE LAUSANNE The Lausanne Conference has broken down, the Turks remaining obdurate and refusing to agree tn the Allies’ proposals. Several hours were spent in strenuous debate, but Ismet Pasha's attitude stiffened. BY TBI.MBAPH. —PBBES ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT. Lausanne, February 4. The British delegates leave to-night. There was a pessimistic feeling regarding agreement. Ismet Pasha was obdurate. He said that on several points it was impossible to sign. The Allies pointed out eleventh-hour concessions which represented the last word of the Allies. Later, the Turks refused to sign. The breakdown was due to tho capitulations. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. February 5, 7.20 p.m.) Lausanne, February 4. At the last moment, when the feeling was optimistic and the conclusion ot the treaty regarded as imminent, the Turks rehued to sign. Agreement could not bo reached on the question of the capitulations and economic points. After deliberating for an hour the Allies adjourned and sought further particulars from tho Turks >« special train in which the Allied delegates intended to leave was held bac.v. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DRAMATIC HOURS SPENT IN STRENUOUS DEBATE (Rec. February 5, 7.20 p.m.) Lausanne, February 4. Die last hours of the conference were most dramatic. Lord Curzon and tho Allied delegates contested the lurks point after point. To a certain stage it seemed likolv an agreement wou.d bo reached, but the capitulations and economic questions proved the deathblow. Hours were passed in strenuous debate of tho prcposalr regarding the capitulations, which included the Turkish nomination of foreign legal advisers to watch foreigners’ interests in the Turkish courts. Lord Curzon, Sir Horace Rumbold, and M. Bompard discussed this for two hours, the two latter eventually going to the, Lausanne palace. Another batt]e with Ismet Pasha then took place, after which Sir Horace Rumbold,■ M. Bompard, and Lord Curzon joined in further discussion, at t'm conclusion of which they telephoned requesting Ismet’s attendance. Lord Curzon wrestled with Ismet for two hours more before giving up the struggle, twice deferring his departure by special train, but Ismet’s attitude stiffened. Lord Curzon went to Ilia train nt 9 o'clock. Bompard remained to mako a last-minute attempt to save the situation. Lord Ctiruon waited m his carriage, detaining the train for the third time, uiitil nearly 10 o’clock, when M. Bompard breathlessly dashed into the station and dejectedly reported final failure. — Aus.-N.Jh Cable Assn. TURKISH REPLY

POINTS ACCEPTED QUESTION OF MOSUL TO BE DEFERRED

Lausanne, February 4. The Turks, instead of replying “Yea” or “Nav” to ’.he Treaty, handed to the Allies this afternoon a voluminous document, to consider which the Allies had a prolonged conferenceIsmet, while accepting many important poini’. »f the draft treaty, suggested others, such as that Mosul should he made tli® subject of separata conventions. A reply was prepared in the small hours after frequent private conferences overnight between Lord Curzon and Ismet.—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. . Lausanne, February 4. The Turkish reply expresses conviction of tlic unanimity of views between the. Allies and the Turkish delegation on fundamental points, sufficient for the establishment of peace, and declares that the Turks are prepared-to agree to great sacrifices for the preservation of peace. They accept the western frontier as proposed by the Allies, and, in order to tstify to their good-will, they do not insist upon obtaining Karngatch and tho railway thence to KuleH Bu’fgas and Demotika. Briefly, they renounce the frontier of 1915; they renounce their policy in regard to closing the Straits; they agree to their demilitarisation, and surrender the claim to maintain a garrison on Gallipoli. They undertake to leave ths cemeteries of tho Anzac zone undisturbed. They suggest that the future of Mosul be decided between Britain and Turkey within a year. —Reuter.

THE TURKISH DEB>T (Rec. February 5, 8.5 p.m.) Lausanna, February 4. The Turkish rcplv agreed to accept the proposals for sharing tho Turkish debt, but reserving rights to collect the debts dun to Turkey. The reply concluded: “In the interests of ]wac<i we propose io s-gn the essential clauses on which agreement has been reached, leaving the others for further negotiation.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH AND ITALIANS ANNOYED TOUCHED BY FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS (Rec. February 5, 11.45 p.m.) London, February 4. The “Morning Post’s” Lausanne correspondent says the French and Italians are more annoyed than the British over the Turkish obstinacy in connection with finances and capitulations, which touch them more than us. Dio difference is illustrated by the final words at tho conference, land Curzon tolling Ismet Pasha that tho Turkish intractability was incredible, eaid Al. Bompard saying l it was a crime to talk of separate treaties. Ismet informed Turkish journalists that ho did not refuse to sign owing in the capitulations, but tho financial section of the treaty meant tho reestablishment of economic “aiiitvlulioiis mid the enslavement of Turkey. Hp

claimed that he was unaware that the confeience was over, and declared that he expected a further communication from tho Allies. Ismet concluded: “My conscience is clear.” The French delegation is leaving for Paris.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FRENCH RESPONSIBILITY THE INTERVENTION OF t POINCARE (Rec. February 5, 8.25 p.m.) London, February ft. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Chronicle” returns to the old question of French responsibility. “Without unfairness or prejudice,” he says, “the blame for the breakdown can bo attribtued mainly to M. Poincare’s unfortunate and mischievous last-hour intervention, but there tile French power for mischief has possibly been exhausted. France has nothing more to offer. Her power in helping the Turks is exhausted. Britain has much to offer in peace or .war. If the Turks want poaco, Britain is the sole Power witji money and political power to assist them on to their feet. If they want war, Britain alone has the power of life and death over Turkey. All this is known to the Turks. Their object, it may be presumed, is a separate peace with Britain.” —Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. USE OF BRITISH NAVY ’ ONLY IF TROOPS ARE ATTACKED (Rec. February 5, 8.25 p.m.l London, February S. Tho “Daily Express” says: “It is ridiculous to imagine we will use the British Navy or recall to the trenches men of the British race in, order to change tho complexion of the Turkish judicature. Diis will only happen if the Turks are mad enough to attack British troops. There is no reason to believe' they will be mad enough for that.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GALLIPOLI GRAVES GENERAL TOWNSHEND’S VIEW (Rec. February 5, 8.25 p.m.) London, February b. General Sir Charles Townshend, interviewed by the “Westminster Gazette,” describes the agitation over the Gallipoli graves as an unworthy effort to excite the British public. He does not know what Lord Curzon imagines the) Turks might do regarding the graves, but points to the British cemetery at Haidarpusha, opposite Constantinople, where are many • f our Crimean dead, which is veil kept by the Turks.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IF TURKS WILL NOT RENOUNCE KARAGATCHGREECE WILL RECOMMENCE HOSTILITIES Paris, February 4. The “Petit Parisien” understands that the Greek leprqscntafives at Pans and London have intimated that in event of the Turks declining to renounce Kara gatch, Greece will recommence hostilities. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.