OUTLOOK BRIGHTER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 242, 26 September 1922, Page 5

OUTLOOK BRIGHTER.

PROSPECT OF SETTLEMENT

Without Resource to Force.

TURKS DESIRE PEACEFUL SOLUTION.

BRITISH FORCES IN ASIA-MINOR

Ample to Resist Attack.

IBy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.l

(Received 26, 12.55 p.m.) London, Sept. 25. The British authorities pay tribute £o Lord Curzon’s work in Paris in securing .simultaneous!?’ Allied unity and real control of the Straits by an international force controlled by the League of Nations; also the permanent Christian occupation of Gallipoli.—(A. and N.Z.) . (Received 26, 12.5 p.m.) Constantinople, Sept. 25. Tho people received the Allies’ Paris decisions with indescribable enifliusia»ni. It is generally believed that Kemal will accept the conference.—(A. and N.Z.) (Received 26, 12.55 p.m.) London, Sept. 25. The “Times’ ” correspondent at Chanak reports that the general situation is easier. It is evident the Turks desire a peaceful solution of tho neutral zone question. The Turkish commander withdrew at the request from the commander of the Dardanelles sector, repeating that ho had no desire to embroil Turkey with the British Empire. Small Turkish cavalry patrols still remain in the neutral zone, but the Turks show a genuine desire to be reasonable. Two additional British battalions arrived with strong reinforcements of field artillery; also fighting and observation ’planes and mobile columns. This will ensure respect for the neutral boundary. The Turkish attitude towards the Greeks and Armenians is very correct, with the exception of at Bigha, where there have been small minor excesses. Chanak has been cleared of practically all its inhabitants. The military have demolished several houses for defence purposes. Constantinople reports that a small concentration of Turks has begun in the Ismid area, but they are not yet large enough to cause anxiety. \\ ith new troops due to arrive this week our forces should be ample to resist any possible attack.—(“Times?’)

CREEKS DISSATISFIED

INDIGNANT AT LOSING THRACE. (Received 26. 12.5 p.m.) Athens, Sept, 25. The French handed over the’ Allies’ Note, which Cabinet lengthil?’ discussed. The people are keenly disappointed at the prospect of losing Thrace, which newspapers indignantly refuse to countenance, demanding that the army be immediately reconstructed for protecting Thrace. Tho National Assembly has been summoned for 2nd October.—(A. and N.Z.) LABOUR IRRESPONSIBILITY. IN BRITISH FAR EAST POLICY. (Received 26, 1.50 v.m.) London, September 25. Mr. J. R. Clynes, in a speech at BnJroiut. said tl > sileaee imposed on the Labour deputation to the Premier enabled sections of the press to say that Labour was so much in agreement with the Government that nothing was to be said to embarrass it. He did not share that view. Labour must not be taken as sharing the responsibility of what was done or proposed. The Government was responsible for the policy which brought the country to the brink of war on the question which had arisen, owing only to continued blunders in regard to pjace settlements. He declared Mr. Lloyd George signalled to the ends of the earth appealing for men from the domjnions to fight before real pacific measures bad been tried.—(Reuter.) SOUTH AFRICA’S REPLY. TRIBUTE TO BRITISH DIPLOMACY MILITARY INTERVENTION NOW UNNECESSARY. (Received 26, 12.5 p.m.) Capetown, Sept. 25* A Pretoria message states that General Smuts’ reply to Mr. Lloyd George expresses regret at the delay owing to his absence, and proceeds: “There seems to he no longer a call for active intervention of the Union Government.” General Smuts says he appreciates the determination of the Imperial Government to maintain the freedom of the Dardanelles, which is one of the most beneficial results of the Great War, but most sincerel?’ trusts that military intervention of the Empire will not lie necessary. “I believe the measures taken by the Imperial Government to safeguard the position of the Straits pending the meeting of the coming conference are adequate, and I rejoice at the more favourable turn of events, which is largely due to successive British diplomacy. So far as the Union is concerned, we could not undertake to participate in military operations in the East without calling Parliament together. I am relieved that more reassuring information now in their possession renders such a step unnecessary.’’ General Smuts concludes: — “In regard to peace in the Near East, the Government ventures to express the opinion that the future regime for maintaining the freedom of the Straits should be placed under the League of Nations.”

General Smuts trusts that such action will be approved by the coming conference.—(A. and N.Z.) REFUGEES AT SYMRNA. MUST QUIT IN FIVE DAYS. BY ORDER OF KEMAL. (Received 26, 12.5 p.m.) London, Sept. 25. Intimation has been received in London from Kemal that refugees must quit Smyrna by 30th September. The intimation was made before the joint note was despatched; therefore it is considered possible the Allied Note will induce the Turks to show more consideration in the treatment of refugees.—(A. and N.Z.) CAUSES OF THE WAR. WHY THE GREEKS FAILED. By the Treaty of Sevres, which wan signed by the Allies on 10th August, 1920, Greece was permitted To" administer the Smyrna province of Western Asia Minor under Turkish sovereignty for five years, at the end of which time the territory would decide by plebiscite whether it sftould annex itself to Greece. When in compliance with these terms a Greek garrison was established in the town of Smyrna, the Turkish Nationalists rallied to Kemal Pasha at Angora, and an army was formed with the intention of ridding the country of the Christian invaders. In an effort to avert a conflict, a conference was called in London, ana in March of last year that portion of the Sevres Treat? - relatrng to Asia, Minor was revised, \he Turks agreeing, as a compromise, to the appointment of a neutral Governor of the Smyrna province. King Constantine, fearing that Greece was being dispossessed, and giving as his reason that Christians were being massacred in Anatolia, ordered a force to leave Smyrna and cross the boundary fixed by the Allies Desultory fighting was engaged in for several months, while both the Greek and Turkish commanders, unknown to each other, strengthened the eqlpment of tKeir respective armies in preparation for a decisive blow*.

When the time seamed ripe for the Greek army to strike Constantine went to the front. For a time the advance of the Greeks was rapid, and their success seemed to be assured. Kemal Pasha, however, as appeared afterwards, gave way before them purposely in order to lengthen their lines of communications. The ruse succeeded. and when at the moment, and in the locality of his own choosing he stopped and fought, the Greek army found itself too far from ite base, and had to hastily retreat. Constantine returned to Athens crestfaften. Fighting has never ceased since, though it was only in the past few weeks that it grew to tho proportions of a grand campaign. One of the reasons relied upon t>y Greece for her militaristic policy in Asia Minor is the protection of the Christian population. The majority of these Christians are orthodox Greeks, who, however, are subjects of Turkey, and were intended by «« Allies to remain so. The Turkish Nationalists protested against these people being compulsorily enrolled in the Greek army as it advanced, and used to light against the country of their adoption. But Moslems predominate in all Hie legions in which there has been fighting, and it has been mainly in defence of their own people and of their own religious faith that the Nationalists have waged war fiercely.