DARK WAR CLOUDS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 5

DARK WAR CLOUDS

TURKEY AND BRITAIN. SERIOUS SITUATION. BRITAIN’S ULTIMATUM. TURKS’ HOSTILE ATTITUDE. BY CABLE PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. rru Oct. 13. ine lurks are talking of war The Government has reviewed the question of a general mobilisation and has adopted every means of defending the ”' a( i frontier. Newspapers state that L ill key will not agree to obey the British orders and Kemal has summoned Parliament. Ihe Assembly has been urgently convoked. A message from Angora says that Dievad Pasha, the Turkish commander in Iraq, will have a fitting reply to the British commander’s letter, which the lurks regard as an invitation to retire from the positions they have taken up. LONDON, Oct. 13. The situation at Mosul continues grave. The Turkish reply, which the Government is now considering, is alleged to be entirely unsatisfactory, failing to recognise the status quo, and in some quarters is regarded as impudent in tone. It defies the Lausanne Treaty and the League of Nations, and does not contain any suggestion that the Turks intend to withdraw their troops. The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily Telegraph asserts that the Mosul situation is serious, and the Government is reviewing the necessity for a general mobilisation. GENEVA, Oct. 13. The Turkish Government has telegraphed the council of the League of Nations recapitulating the correspondence with Britain relative to Iraq and claiming that Turkey was respecting the position- as it existed on September 30, in accordance with the agreement reached at the Geneva Conference, whereas Britain was insisting on the demands she advanced in an earlier Note and violating her Geneva undertaking. The Turkish Government adds: “If Britain, disregarding her undertaking, disturbs the peace and commits acts of aggression, tlhe responsibility is entirely liens.” Turkey requests tlie council of the League” to adopt measures to compel respect for the decision of the council. PARIS, Oct. 13.

Le ‘ Journal (says that the JAngloTurkish nreparatione are likely to result in rifles cracking. “Is the Mosul question going to rekindle the flames of war in the Near East?” it asks in commenting on the British ultimatum to Turkey, granting till noon on October 11. for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops behind the line of status quo and the cessation of further concentration; otherwise the British will resume the full liberty of action. Le Journal expresses the opinion that the political crisis in Britain does not lessen the risk. On the contrary, it is necessary for the Labour Government to prosecute the affair vigorously. If they fail they will bequeath to- their successors the thorniest of problems, but if victorious they will have an opportunity of scoring a big success. The Turkish reply to this ultimatum was cabled on October 11.