NEUTRAL ZONES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 18 September 1922, Page 5

NEUTRAL ZONES.

MUST BE RESPECTED. DIPLOMACY ALONE FUTILE. OFFICIAL BRITISH STATEMENT. London, Sept. 16. The British Government’s statement regarding the Near East says:— “The Kemalist demands involve the entire loss of the results of the victory over Turkey in the late war. Britain is prepared to use great exertions to defend the freedom of the Straits. She is gratified that her views are shared by France and Italy, the two other great Powers who are principally concerned. The question of Constantinople is somewhat different. The Allies, at the London Conference in January, 1921. announced their intention of restoring Constantinople to the Turks, subject to satisfactory adjustment of other matters. Britain desires a conference to be held as speedily as possible in order to secure a stable peace with Turkey, but the conference is impossible while there is the question of the Kemalists attacking neutral zones. The Commissioners at Constantinople have been instructed to notify Kemal Pasha that the neutral zones must he respected, hut it would be futile and dangerous to to diplomatic action alone in view of the excited mood and extravagant claims of the Kemalists.” The statement adds: “An adequate force is necessary to guard the Straits. It would he most disastrous if the Allies were driven out of Constantinople by the Kemalists. It would doubtless produce far-reaching reactions, not merely in Moslem countries but in all States defeated in the late war, who would be profoundly encouraged by the spectacle of the undreamt of successes of the comparatively weak Turkish forces. Moreover, the reappearance of the victorious Turk on the European shore of the Straits would provoke the gravest situation in the Balkans, likely to lead to extensive bloodshed in regions already cruelly devastated. It is the duty of the Allies in the late war to prevent this great danger, and secure orderly and peaceful conditions in the Straits, permitting a conference to conduct deliberations with dignity and efficiency to reach a permanent settlement. “Britain has addressed herself in this sense to the other Great Powers associated in the defence of Constantinople. but the other Allied Powers of the Balkans are vitally affected. Roumania was ruined in the war by the strangulation of the Straits. A TurcoBulgarian union would have a deadly consequence to Jugo-Slavia. The whole Danube trade would be subject to strangulation if the Straits were closed. The effects on Greek interests are also self-evident.”—(Router.) BRITAIN. FRANCE, ITALY. IN COMPLETE ACCORD. PROPOSED CONFERENCE WITH TURKEY. London, Sept. 15. The Cabinet meeting lasted two and j&(half hours? It is understood the Government is in complete accord with France and Italy. The three countries are sending Kemal a joint note, informing him that the neutrality of the demilitarised zone in the Straits must be observed ponding permanent arrangements. The Allies are also sending reinforcements t.o the zone, and are instructing their fleets to prevent any Turkish troops from leaving the Asiatic side, also to prevent transports collecting for the conveyance of Turks. Cabinet considered that an early conference should be summoned to discuss the terms of peace, at which the Allies, Turkey and Greece should he represented, also Roumania and JugoSlavia. who have direct interests in anv arrangement w’hich may he reached regarding the Straits and Turkey’s European territory.—(A. and N.Z.) FRENCH REPLY TO BRITISH NOTE Paris. Sept. 15. France, replying to the British Note, agrees regarding the necessity of maintaining the neutrality of the Dardanelles, and says the Government has instructed the High Commissioner at Constantinople to make representations to the Angora Government, in conjunction with the British and Italian representatives, urging them to conform to the desires of the Allied Governments. The French Note to Britain gives no details regarding the extent of . the French support of the Turkish claims. French newspapers confidently predict the restoration of Thrace and Adrianople. “Le Matin” states that Gallipoli must be handed back, but other papers suggest that France favours an Allied and Turkish commission to administer Gallipoli, except for the squalid Turkish quarter. —(A. and N.Z.) JUCO SLAVIA’S FAITH. IN THE ALLIES. Paris, Sept. 16. Regarding the Turkish situation “Le Matin” quotes the Jugo-Slavia Foreign Minister, now in Paris, as saying: “Our population is on good terms with the Turks, whose conduct to the, Macedonians was always correct. We shall conform to the Franco-British* arrange -

ments regarding the Turkish frontier, believing they will constitute a sufficient guarantee.”—(A. and N.Z.) Advices from Angora state that the Grand Assembly has issued an official communique to the people of Constantinople. telling them to await the intervention of the national army and not to indulge in any insurrectionary movement. —(Reuter). BULGARIAN MILITARY ACTIVITIES. GREEK APPEAL TO JUGO-SLAVIA. Belgrade, Sept. 16. The “Politik” states that Greece has drawn the attention of Jugo-Slavia to Bulgarian military preparations on the Greek frontier and has asked for co-operation on supporting the Greek viewpoint regarding Thrace. The Government has decided to take part in all Near Eastern conferences. —(A. and N.Z.)