NEAR EAST CRISIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1923, Page 5

NEAR EAST CRISIS

ALLIES’ TERMS REJECTED. WAR BELIEVED IMMINENT.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Constantinople, Jan. zs. i A serious view is taken of the Near - East situation. All preparations have ■ been completed for tho evacuation of - the British subjects. Encounters bei tween the Greek and Turkish outt posts along the Maritza River aie daily becoming more frequent. 1 Kemal Dasha-, who has been visitt ing Smyrna, -was urgently summoned i to Angora in view of the critical situl ation at Lausanne. Angora official ' circles state that the Turkish Natroni al Assembly will be asked to take rin--1 portant final decisions, unless the . British alter their attitude. Ismet I’asha will issue a proclamation to the world, explaining Turkey’s position. Then he will leave Lausanne. Subsequently the Turkish Army wilt move towards Mosul. The Turkish press bitterly attacks the British Government. It says: “After trying to dupe Turkey, tho Allies have thrown aside the mask.” The hiewspaper “Hleril” declares: — “The question of . the Australasian cemeteries lias been raised by the British in order‘to retain Gallipoli. This is a masterpiece of hypocrisy.” LAUSANNE, January 28. Ismet Pasha’s reply to Lord Curzon pointed out that the Gallipoli cemeteries occupy an area as largo as Ouchy. Turkey is willing to respect these cemeteries. Turkey wanted the right only to control the Anzac beach. The beach has been used for landing troops ,and it might be similarly used

again. FRENCH FLEET PREPARING. PARIS, January 29. AL Poincare has written to Kemal suggesting that he adopt a conciliatory attitude and urging him to conclude a peace. Naval authorities at Toulon received orders that the battleship Strassburg should bo ready to leave at a moment’s notice for tho Near East. The despatch of destroyers and submarines to Eastern waters is also contemplated. Latest Lausanne messages state that the Turks are almost certain to reject the proposed treaty, It is reported that Ismet has already formally told the Allies that he favoured an adjournment sine die. ’TREATY WITH RUSSIA. PARIS, January 29. “Lo/Matin” reproduces a- Belgrade report stating that Ismet ami Tchitchcrin concluded a secret treaty, approved' by the' Turkish and Russian Governments, under which the Turks and Russians undertake to help one another in the event of the resumption of hostilities between the Turks ami Greeks, or war between Britain and Turkey. In the latter event, the Russians will send several divisions to Mesopotamia. The treaty also provides for Fhe despatch of Russian troops to Thrace through Bulgaria. DEFENDING MOSUL.

BAGDAD, January 28. The secretary to the High Commissioner has notified that it has been decided to reinforce the garrison at ’ ; Alosul, with certain army air force units from Bagdad. It is also understood that a battalion of the Irak army is moving up. It is considered most unlikely that Turks will act in open hostility while negotiations are in progress, but it is feared that they may instigate the frontier tribes to raid the Alosul vilayet. HOME FOR REFUGEES. LAUSANNE, January 28. Tho only bright side of the Lausanne i picture at present is lhe Russian offer to find a home in Russia lor a considerable number of Arnunians. It ■ is proposed to settle tho Armenians in North Georgia. The Russians will provide only land. The Armenians must depend on international aid to erect their own buildings. The Armen- . ians are pleased with the offer, and ■ will now negotiate with the Russians ' regarding the settlement details. i ■BRITISH OPINION. ‘ LONDON, January 29. Well-informed circles in London do not ' interpret the Turkish disinclination to sn. > ' the Lausanne Treaty as an entire refusal, 1 but express the opinion that Ismet will 1 declare his intention of taking the treaty to Angora for discussion. ■ The Turkish armed aggression in Alosul ( is eng '.l'ing the War Office’s attention. ( i