TURKISH MENACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18247, 14 November 1922, Page 7

TURKISH MENACE.

GRAVITY UNRELIEVED.

HOSTILITY TO CHRISTIANS.

FEAR IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

PREPARATIONS FOR FLIGHT. Ay Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 7.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Nov. 13. The Constantinople correspondent of the Morning Post says that the situation is still very grave. Rafat Pasha, the Nationalist Governor, maintains an uncompromising attitude. The Turks are seizing the passports of Greeks trying to leave tho country and are also arresting Greeks on trumped-up charges, thus increasing alarm among the Christian population. It is evident that the Angora Government has decided to rid Turkey of all Christian elements. The Christian populations of large towns are in flight toward the Mediterranean and the Black Sea Forty thousand are approaching Samsun alone by every road. The Turks, however, continue to detain males between the ages of 19 and 55. Without a doubt the Angora Government is now completely dominated by extremists, and the gravest fears aro entertained. The Constantinople correspondent, of the Daily Express confirms the gravity of the situation. He states that the Turks are pushing forward plans to gain everything possible before the Lausanne Conference. Many believe that it would be best for the Allies to clear out of Constantinople altogether, as it might be possible to obtain guarantees if evacuation was made the price of a bargain.

The streets of the European quarter are unsafe. Nobody knows what the next day may bring forth. Every married foreigner is sending his family away and business men are cancelling contracts. The British Consul is compiling a list of residents in order to give instant warning of danger and to move the British colony to ships at Varna. Cable communication with Constantinople has been restored. Xho Allied generals and the High Commissioners agreed to remove the censorship from Turkish communications with Angora. The British forces celebrated Armistice Day in an impressive manner. Turkish bakers in the Asiatic suburbs refused to supply bread to Christians. Yielding to pressure of the Allies, the Nationalists have reverted to the custom levies operative before they seized the administration and doubled the rates. LAUSANNE CONFERENCE. POSTPONED TILL NOVEMBER 20 TURK DESIGNS ON MANDATES. Australian and K.Z. Cable Association (Reed. 9.5 p.m.) PARIS. Nov. 12.

It is announced that tho Lausanne Conference has been adjourned till November 20 at the request of the British Government.

The Angora Government has informed fcha Italian Foreign Office that the Turkish delegates at Lausanne will propose plebiscites in Syria. Palestine and Mesopotamia at such time as will ajlow the inhabitants who have been driven out to return to their homes.

YUGOSLAV WAR CREDIT. £30,000,000 ASKED FOR. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 9.5 p.m.) BELGRADE, Not. 13. The Government has requested Parliament to pass an urgent war credit of £30,000,000. RUSSIAN WAR -MEASURES. TROOPS FOR THE CAUCASUS. Times. LONDON, Nor. 12. The Riga correspondent of the Times reports great Russian military preparations in the Caucasus. The equipping and supplying of munitions for forces on tho Turkish frontiers are proceeding steadily.