GREECE AND TURKEY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18158, 1 February 1921, Page 5

GREECE AND TURKEY

EDHEM'BEY’S FORCE SURRENDERS. NATIONALIST PRESTIGE SUFFERS. Prees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. ATHENS, January 29. A communique from Smyrna confirms the statement that Edhem Bey’s force of 2000 surrendered to the- Greeks. Nearly half of the officers and men entered the Greek lines just when the Turkish propagandist stories of Nationalist victories were, gaining -credence. It is supposed that Edhem unkindly selected the moment for surrender in order to inflict most serious damage on the Nationalist prestige. In the opinion of British observers the reports of the Nationalist military strength are mere\bluff. —Times.

KEMAL PASHA’S LINES WEAKENED. ATHENS, January 30. When he surrendered his force Edhem Bey held important positions _ around Guirorish. His surrender has considerably weakened Kemal Pasha’s lines.—Times.

NEAR EAST CONFERENCE,

ATTITUDE OF GREECE AND TURKEY.

ATHENS, January 30,

In connection with the invitation to the Greeks and Turks to attend a Near East conference in ' London, Kemal Pasha has notified - the Grand Vizier that the Angora Government is the only Government at present in existence _ in Turkey* He is awaiting a direct invitation fr6m the Allies, when he will the following terms for acceptance: Firstly, foreign troops must immediately evacuate Turkish territories; secondly, Turkey refuses to pay an indemnity. Meanwhile the Greek Prime Minister declares that he will go to LondoA as a plenipotentiary of an allied country, as he does not consider that anything has happened to change the views of the signatories to the of Sevres as regards Greece.—Reuter.