NEAR EAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 14 November 1922, Page 5

NEAR EAST

POSIfION Still VERY GRAVE

ALARM AMONGST CHRISTIANS

TURKS PUSHING FORWARD PLANS

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON. Nov. J 3.

The Morning Post s Constantinople correspondent says the situation is still very grave. Rafel Pasha maintains an uneompromising altitude. The Turks are seizing the passports of Greeks trying to leave the country, and are also arresting Creeks on trumped-up charges, thus increasing the alarm among tin; Christian population. It is evident An gora lias decided to rid Turkey of ail Christian elements. Christian populations of large towns are in flight to wards the Mediterranean and 1 Mark ISea. Forty thousand are approaching Samsun alone by every road. The Turks, however, continue to detain males between the ages ol nineteen and fiftylive. Without doubt- Angora is now completely dominated by extremists. The gravest fears are entertained.

The Daily Express Constantinople correspondent confirms i in* gravity of the situation. The 'lurks are pushing forward plans to gain everything possible before.the conference. Many believe it best to clear out altogether, possibly obtaining guarantees to make our evacuation the price of the bargain. The .streets of Hie European quarter are unsafe. Nobody knows what the next- day will bring forth. Every married foreigner is .sending his. family away. Business men are cancelling contracts. The Consul is compiling a list of residents in .order to give instant warning of danger and -move the British colony to ships at Varna.

LAUSANNE CONFERENCE POSTPONED PARIS, Nov. 12. It is announced that the Lausanne Conference has been adjourned I ill 20th al the request of (he British Government. TURKS TO 'PROPOSE PLEBISCITE

ROME, Nov. 12

The Angora Government informed the Italian Foreign Office that the Turkish delegates at Lausanne will propose a plebiscite in Syria, Palestine, and -Mesopotamia at such time as will allow the inhabitants who have bee ndriven out to return to their homes.

CENSOR SHIP REMOVED

CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 12

The Allied Generals and High Commissioners agreed to remove the censorship from Turkish communications with Angora.

British forces celebrated the armistice in an impressive manner. Turkish bakers in the Asiatic suburbs refused to supply bread to the Christians.

SERBIAN WAR CREDIT

BELGRADE, Nov. 13.

The Government demanded Parliament to pass an urgent war credit of thirty million sterling.

ANGLO-FRENCH RELATIONS

LONDON’, Nov. 13. The Times Pam correspondent discloses that complete confusion existed between the views of Britain and France over the postponement of the Lausanne conference, and the relations were strained. The correspondent adds that it is with strange reluctance that the French commit themselves to a clear cut programme. The inclination persists to pass over lightly Turkish acts of provocation and defiance in Constantinople. It is understood permission was granted the French and Italian High Commissioners to agree if necessary to the declaration of a state of siege, but the permission is so hedged about with conditions that virtually it is not. workable until too late. In any case it seems most jprobablo that the moment for such action has gone and that the proclamation of a state of siege now is more likely to precipitate a conflict.

TURKS’ CHANGED ATTITUDE LONDON, Nov. 13. Evidence is accummulating that the Turks have changed their attitude towards the French. In addition to desecrating graves in Smyrna they destroyed French soap works in Asia Minor, and are renewing demands regarding the Syrian frontiers. The French so far Lave not taken any steps to reinforce the troops at Constantinople.

A FRENCH SUGGESTION PARTS, Nov. 13. •M. Poincare informed Lord Hardinge that he was unable, owing to-pressure of Parliamentary business, to go to London, therefore he suggests that a preliminary conference be held at Paris or Lausanne. Ismet Pasha, interviewed at Lausanne, said the postponement of the conference was a serious mistake. The Turkish army and people could not be kept in a state of anxiety and intense strain. There was the gravest- danger of incidents producing conflict between the Turks and Allies.

OFFICAL DESPATCHES SITUATION CONTINUES GRAVE

SEVERE MEASURES THREATENED BY ALLIES -

LONDON, Nov. 13

Official despatches to-day show that the Near East situation continues grave. Constantinople is described as being on the edge of a volcano. The Allied Commissioners warned the Turks that severe measures would be taken unless they adopt forthwith a more moderate attitude.

It is regarded as certain that there will bo an interchange of views between Lord Curzon and M. Poincaire with reference to drafting the programme for the Lausanne Conference.

PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE

LONDON, Nov. 15

Though the situation at Constantinople is still electrical, the Allies have not yet carried out the threat to establish it, state of siege. It is emphasised that Britain (throughout insisted that tho Lausanne Conference was hound to prove abortive unless the Allies' reached a proliminary agreement. Both trance anti Italy fully agreed with this view' and the postponement of the conference was entirely due to tho difficulties of arranging a meeting between Lord Curzon, M ; Poincaire and Signor Mussolini 'owing to (he British elections, the French budget debate, and the Italian Cabinet reconstruction. Lord Curzon strongly opposed meeting at Lausanne on the evo of the conference on the ground that there was no time then for the Allies to reach unanimity. It is denied that the postponement ot the conference was due to any interallied or Anglo-French differences on Nov. 12. Several delegations for the Lausanne conference before the postponement were announced, including Serbians, Roumanians and Kemalists. Ismet Pasha arrived at Lausanne and decided to proceed to Paris. Apparently he will occupy the interim conversing with French statesmen.