NEAR EAST CRISIS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 16 September 1922, Page 5

NEAR EAST CRISIS

Turkish Demands THE PORTE. ADRIANOPLE AND THRACE. “ALLIES MUST GIVE THEM UP.” FRENCH ATTITUDE OBSCURE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.] (Received 16, 9.45 a.m.) Constantinople. Sept. 15. Kemal Pasha, in the course of an army order expressing appreciation of the efforts of the troops to attain the first objective, namely, the Mediter-; ranean, adds that he is convinced they will be animated by the same spirit of sacrifice in the new task which will be assigned to them(A. and N.Z.) (Received 16, 10.50 a.m.) Pans, September 15. “L’Oeuvre” says: “We have reason to fear die Turks intend shortly to mass large forces and esetablish ar- j tillery batteries on the heights domin- : ating the Dardanelles, opposite Gal-i lipoli threatening the closing of the I passage to the Aegean Sea to the I Allied squadrons in the Sea of Mar-j mora and the Bosphorus.” The “Berliner Tageblatt” publishesl a Constantinople telegram stating that. fighting occurred near the city be- j tween British troops and Kemalists. More British troops have been sent to Caravlia. Tlie Turkish National Parliament has been convoked by telegram.—(A. and N.Z.) London, Sept. 14. The “Daily Telegraph's" Smyrna correspondent reports that Mustapha Kemal, in a statement, said: ‘‘We do not want to fight Britain, but Constantinople must be given up peacefully; if not we will fight for it. We demand Constantinople, Adrianople and that part or Thrace which is predominantly Turkish.”—(Argus). British official circles regard the Near East situation as obscure. Nothing is yet known as to the Kemalist intentions regarding the Straits and the neutral zone. The Government is eagerly awaiting the French Cabinet’s decision to-day and a precise explanation of the phrase in the previous French communique reading, “Safeguarding Turkey's legitimate aspirations.” It is hoped the French views will be received in time for a British Cabinet meeting on Saturday.—(A. and N.Z.) SOVIET RUSSIAN NOTE. DECIDED DECLARATION ON THE SIDE OF TURKEY London, Sept. 14. A Note addressed to the Allies has been received in London from Moscow dealing with the Turkish situation. It declares that Russia cannot be bound by any decision reached, and makes certain reservations regarding a Near East settlement. The Note expresses satisfaction with the Turkish victories, adding that all Russian people are on the side of Turkey, and offers to secure an agreement. The Soviet Commissary for Foreign Affairs has circulated a Noto to the Powers protesting against the Allies’ claim to settle the problem of the Dardanelles, and contending that it is the business of the Black Sea Powers, not of outsiders, to deal with the matter. The Note sneeringly adds that the Allies are too exhausted to deal with Turkey except on a pacific basis. HOW WARS ARE MADE. BROADCASTED LIES. London, Sept. 14. A statement officially communicated to the “Morning Post” clears up persistently broadcasted rumours that the British Foreign Office provoked the Turks by refusing to receive the emissaries who visited London with the object of securing recognition of the Turkish cause. The facts are that Yussuf Kemal Bey, actual Foreign Secretary in the Angora Government, when in London on a peace mission m May last had three lengthy interviews with Lord in which the entire situation was disftussed. Fethey Bey, when* in London more recently, was not refused an audience. The I'oreign Secretary, who was then ill, sent a message' to Fethey Bey to go to the Foreign Office and write a statement for communication to the Foreign Secretary, which he did.—(A. and N.Z.) PALESTINE PEACEFUL. London, September 14. The Colonial Office denies newspaper reports that a revolt in Palestine is imminent and states that the country is tranquil.—(A. and N.Z.) SMYRNA IN FLAMES. TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATION. PEOPLE HOMELESS AND PANIC STRICKEN. 1000 DEAD. Rome. September 14. Advices from Smyrna state that a terrible fire is raging iu the city. The Greek and Armenian quarters have been destroyed and the Hanies are spreading to other areas. The inhabitants are panic-stricken. Italian ships in port are embarking the Italian colony and the Government is despatching vessels with provisions and medical stores. It has also ordered the concentration ol Italian warships at Smyrna.—(Reuter.) The "Daily Telegraph’s” Smyrna correspondent states that the fire started in the heart of the Armenian quarter, leaving 60,000 homeless. It has destroyed the Greek lind Armenian districts and the beautiful foreign quarter in the western part of the city is jtt ruins, but the Turkish quarter is untouched. . The quays and waterside are thronged with panic-stricken refugees, who are in the direst straits, hungry and threatened by marauding robbers. Foreign destroyers anchored in the harbour kept searchlights on the crowds throughout the terrible night to protect them, while a cordon of regular Turkish soldiers also guarded them. , , The woman duel of the American Collegiate institute alleges that a Turkish sergeant or officer eutered the first building" where the flames started carrying small tins, apparently paratill. ’ The fire began immediately he de- ' Y is estimated that there are 1000 The European and American financial losses will probably aggregate £12,000,000. The destruction included large crowded stores ol the Near East Relief Committee. 'llie Armenian and Greek villages outside the city were also set on fire with the residential suburbs of Bouruabat and Boudia. —(A. and N.Z.)

INCENDIARISM. ATTRIBUTED TO GREEKS. (Received 16, 10.50 a.m.) Paris, Sept. 15. An Angora despatch states that Hussein Rauf Bey, Premier of Angora, addressed a note to the Turkish representatives in Paris and London, protesting against fires and pilfering attributed to the Greeks during the retreat. stating that the Turkish nation would never be able to forgive these acts.—(A. and N.Z.) PA NIC-STRICKEN CHRI STI AN REFUGEES. London, September 14. Alarmist reports of Kemalist excesses come from Athens. A Greek journalist who has arrived at Piraeus alleges that Greek and Armenian metropolitans have been murdered, also about 2000 soldiers, whose bodies were thrown into the sea. Terrible panic prevails among the Christian refugees. —(Reuter.)