FRANCE AND TURKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18387, 1 May 1923, Page 7

FRANCE AND TURKS.

GELATIONS' STRAINED.

IN V-ESTM ENTS IN J EOPARDY.

WHOLE NATION STIRRED.

PRECAUTIONS ' IN SYRIA..

By Telegraph Association Copyright. (Received 6.48 p.m.) A. and N.Z. ' " LONDON. April 30. The Paris correspondent of ■, the Daily Express reports that relations between the Turks and French 'are very strained. The whole country is solidly behind the Government in' its refusal to accept the Turkish offer to pay interest. on Turkish. bonds in French paper francs. The question interests every village in France, where peasants and shopkeepers are determined that Turkish bonds shall not be brought to the level of Russian bonds.

. The ■ newspapers state ' that General Weygand is proceeding.' to the North Syrian frontier to take measures to safeguard the frontier in. view of a reported Turkish concentration in that : region. It is pointed out . that General . Weygand controls 26,000 troops in Syria, while two divisions of colonial, troops are ready to reinforce him if necessary; but it. is thought that the Turkish movements: are not a prelude to an attack, but are more probably meant to support Turkish bargaining at the Lausanne Conference. ■ Meanwhile General Pelle is visiting Paris to report the result of the recent conversations with Ismet Pasha regarding Franco-Turkish relations. ,'- .-'.'-• -*