THE DARDANELLES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1936, Page 9

THE DARDANELLES

DEMANDS BY TURKEY. CROSS-CURRENTS APPEAR. DANGER OF PRECEDENTS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received dune 24, 8.55 a.m. MONTREUX, June 23. With the arrival of Mr S. M. Bruce, the Dardanelles Conference held a private meeting. As there was general agreement on the main points of the Turkish draft it was hoped the proceedings would be expeditious. A later states that, as a result of the morning's discussions, certain cross-currents pi opinion winch are becoming perceptible are lately to prolong tliu cuntoieiice. me Powers desire to render the Turkish proposals less rigid, especially in time of war. The Russians are not satisfied with permission to move only a 25,000 ton battleship in the Straits. France is supoprting tiic Russian standpoint.

The Powers also do not wish to give up. tfie Straits Commission. An efiort will be made to avoid creating precedents.

4t is pointed out in naval circles that the closure of the Dardanelles might load to restrictive regulations elsewhere, notably the Kiel Canal, the waters separating Denmark and Sweden, the Panama and Suez Canals. The Turks arc expected to show the stubborness that characterised them at the Lausanne Conference. The absence of Germany and America is also intiuencing tfie delegates, who are meeting round a horseshoe table. Two places bearing the labels of Italy are unoccupied.

TURKEY’S PROPOSITIONS

MONTItEAUX, June 22. The Dardanelles conference opened in picturesque manner, M. Motta, the Swiss Foreign Minister, preceded by an usher, wearing a scarlet cloak over a heavy blue uniform, taking his seat on the stage of the hotel ballroom. Turkey had previously distributed a draft convention claiming full sovereignty and control of the straits, but providing for free passage for merchantmen in wartime and peacetime. Passage of submarines would be entirely prohibited. Warships and auxiliaries of any single country would be given free passage in daylight subject to a month’s notice and would be limited to one cruiser and two destroyers, whose total tonnage shall not exceed 14,000. The combined fleets in the Black Sea must never exceed 28,000 tons. Only one ship at a time would be permitted to pass through the straits if the Turkish fleet were absent from its base in the Sea of Marmora. No warship would have any right of capture, search or other hostile act in the straits. Passage of all warships in a war in which Turkey was a belligerent would be subject to special authorisation. No aircraft, either civil or military, must fly over the straits. They must follow the route laid down by the laws governing aviation in Turkey. The. draft formally proposed the abolition of the demilitarised zones and the abolition of the international commission, the convention to operate for 15 years.

M. Motta praised Turkey for setting an example in correct procedure in submitting her claim to the Powers. Dr ltushti Aras explained the draft and said that Turkey had to defend her own territories.

M. Titulescue (Rumania) said that if the Dardanelles were the heart of Turkey they were the lungs of Rumania, and for this reason it was indispensable that tho two countries work together. Earl Stanhope (Britain) said: — “"When the Straits Convention was signed in 1923 we were anticipating a general measure of disarmament and it was believed that the League would be able to exercise greater powers in preventing wars. Recent events have shown that collective action by the League is slow to operate. Nations must in the first instance rely on their own defence.” He referred to the treaties abrogated in recent years unilaterally and expressed gratitude to Turkey for taking a different course. M. Litvinoff (Russia) said: “At present there are two groups in Europe, one openly preparing for the next war and the other trying to maintain-peace. Turkey belongs to the second group and her demand may be understood and satisfied.” The conference will examine the draft to-morrow privately. Italy was not represented but sent a message stating that she feels that grave issues could more opportunely be treated after the meeting at Geneva. She will be ready to participate in the discussions when the situation is cleared, and in the meantime she reserves her attitude in regard to the decisions taken.