NEAR EAST CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18676, 4 October 1922, Page 7

NEAR EAST CRISIS

LATEST REPORTS REASSURING ANGORA ASSEMBLY APPROVES OF CONFERENCE BRITAIN ADHERES TO PARIS DECISIONS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 2. (Received October 3, at 8.10 p.m.) Turkish infantry have now appeared in ' the neutral zone at Burgaskoi and Kusukoi, but Karanbigh has been evacuated. The presence of small Turkish Infantry detachments is reported near Chanak.—Reuter. KEMAL’S ACTION APPROVES DESPATCH OF DELEGATES TO MUDANIA AUTHORISED. LONDON, October 2. (Received October 3, at 8,10 p.m.) The Angora Assembly unanimously approved of Kemal’s action, .and authorised the despatch of delegates to Mudania and the Peace •Conference.— A. and N.Z. Cable. .

MUDANIA CONFERENCE. MANY DIFFICULTIES AHEAD. BRITAIN’S POLICY STRICT ADHERENCE TO PARIS NOTE. Press Association—Sy Telegraph— Copyright LONDON, October 2. Official circles believe that the decision to hold a conference at Mudania is a high tribute to the tact and patience of General Harington, Sir Horace Rumbold (British High Commissioner at Constantinople), and Admiral Brock. Nevertheless, they point out that manv difficulties have still to be encountered. The British policy adheres unswervingly to the Paris Note, which entails not only the withdrawal of the Turks from the neutral zones, hut the withdrawal of the Greeks to the Mantza lino in Eastern Thrace. The latter is regarded as being equally as difficult to bring about as the former, in view of the revolutionaries’ rallying point being the defence of Thrace.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SCOPE OF CONFERENCE. LONDON, October 2. The Mudania Conference will consider : 1. Guarantees regarding neutrality. 2. The demarcation of Eastern Thrace, presumably the Maritza Valley line. 3. The temporary administration of Thrace, which will probably be divided into sectors under British, French, and Italian officials. I —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE TURKISH FRONTIERS. GENERAL HARING TON’S PROPOSALS.

LONDON. October 2. (Received Oct. 3, at 8.10 p.m.) Mr Ward Price, telegraphing from Constantinople. says that General Harington and his colleagues will propose at the Mudania Conference that Eastern Thrace be controlled by an Inter-Al)ied Commission during the peace negotiations. When these afro satisfactorily completed the Turks, as promised, will take over the Government of the whole of Eastern Thrace, including Adrianople. The Turkish frontiers in Europe will then be approximately the same as in 1914. —A. and N.Z. Cable. TURKEY’S DEMANDS. SUPPORTED BY FRANCE. PARIS, October 2. M. Poincare has communicated the Angora Note to Great Britain and Italy. He urges the acceptability of the Turkish demands. —A. and N.Z. Cable. (On September 23 a Note was issued on behalf of Britain, France, and Italy requesting the Nationalist Assembly of Turkey to inform the Allies if it was ready to send representatives with full powers to a conference at Venice, at which Britain, France. Italy, Japan, Turkey. Rumania, Jugo-Slavia. and Greene would be represented. The object of the conference would be to negotiate final peace between Turkey, Greece, and the Allied Powers. The Note proceeded: The three Powers take the opportunity of declaring that they view with favour Turkov’s desire to recover Thrace as far as the River Maritza and Adrianople. On condition that the Angora Governmentdoes not send its army during the peace negotiation? into the proclaimed neutral zones, the throe GoVcrnmonts will bo willing to support at the conference the attribution of these frontiers to Turkey, it being understood, however, that stops will be taken to safeguard the interests of Turkey and her neighbours, to demilitarise oerhin zones to be fixed, with a view to making ncaco, and to obtain the peaceful ro-establishmcnt of Turkish authority, and peacefully to ensure the freedom of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmora-, and the Bosphorus, as well a? the protection of racial and religious minorities.] • KEMAL’S ASMS. PLEBISCITE- IN WESTERN THRACE. BELGRADE, October 3. (Received Oct. 3. at 8.40 p.m.) It is reported that Kemal at the Peace Conference intends to demand a plebiscite in Western Thrace.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE IMPROVED OUTLOOK TRIBUTE TO ANGLO FRENCH DIPLOMACY. PARIS, October 2. The press generally welcomes the improved outlook in the Near East as a triumnh for Anglo-French diolomacy. The Echo do Paris savs that it would he foolish to he over-optimistic, for while the situation at Cb-mak ha? eased, the Strait? question is still unsettled—A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITISH LIBERALS’ POL3CT. OPPOSED TO NEW WAR. LONDON. October 3. (Received Oct. 3. at 3.40 p.m.) Liberal leaders, including Mr Asnnith, Viscount Grev. Farl Crewe, and Sir D. MacL°an, publicly made a statement that the Liberal Party was opposed to a new war. and declared that only possible British policy was the solidarity of the Allies.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE THRACIAN PROBLEM. MAINTENANCE OF ORDER, ALLIED MISSION’S TASK. CONSTANTINOPLE, October 2. The Allied Mission to Thrace will consist of the T rench staff for Adrianople, the Italian for Lnle Burgas, and the British for Rodosto. The mission’s object is the protection of the population and the maintenance of order.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE SOVIET'S SYMPATHY. PROTECTION OE TURKISH INTERESTS. HELSINGFORS, October 2. The Soviet intimated to Angora her willingness to protect Turkish interests in Russia. Troops are now concentrating in Caucasia, with the advance divisions at Batura.—A. and N.Z. Cable. URQUHART-KEASSIN AGREEMENT. EFFECT OB' RATIFICATION. BERLIN, October 2. Oct. 3, at 8.10 p.m.) Hemal's emissaries are busy conferring with the Soviet representatives, notably with regard to the effect of the ratification of the IJrouhart-Krassin agreement on Russo-Turkish relations. The supporters of the agreement contend that ratification will tend towards good relations between Great Britain, Russia, and Turkey.—Reuter. LIBERTY OF THE STRAITS. RUSSIA’S PROTEST. A BLOCKADE ALLEGED. LONDON, October 2. The Soviet sent another Note to Great Britain strongly protesting against the blockade of the Straits, and pointing out that Russia, in order to accomplish reconstruction, had placed numerous orders for goods, most of which would be forwarded through the Straits. The Powers which refused to renew normal economic relations ware thus preventing the carrying out by Russia’s own efforts her work of reconstruction. The blockade was a new proof that the Powers for whom the navigation of the Black Sea is not vital would always be able to threaten toe peaceful economic life of the States bordering on the Black Sea. The liberty of the Straits, in the name of which Europe was again preparing to spill blood, merely signified the liberty of the Entente Powers to blockade the Straits under anv pretext. Russia supported liberty to merchant vessels, which would completely free the Straits from foreign naval forces, and insisted on the raising of the blockade. It is semi-officinllv stated that nothing is known of the alleged blockade.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA’S PRECAUTIONS. WARSHIPS SAIL FOR BOSPHORUS.

NEW YORK. October 2. A message from Norfolk, Virginia, states that 12 United States destroyers have sailed, bound for the Bosphorus.— A. and N.Z. Cable. HUMANITARIAN ISM. AN AMERICAN APPEAL. WASHINGTON. October 2. (Received Oct. 3, at 7.30 p.m.) It is understood that representatives on behalf of the United States have forwarded to the Turks and Greeks and the other Powers interested an appeal for humanitarianism. The communication suggests the immediate cessation of hostilities and the taking, of a stsn leading to the protection of all minorities and a permanent peace. It is believed that M. Bouillon (Allied Commissioner to Kemal) delivered the communication to the Turks.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA’S POLICY. ARMED INTERVENTION OPPOSED. WASHINGTON. October 2. (Received Oct. 3, at 7.30 p.m.) Mr C. E. Hughes, replying to an appeal by Bishop Cannon, of Virginia, who is now in Paris, after a personal investigation in the Near East, that the United States should use armed forces to help the Allied nations to settle the Near East situation, said ; “We have done all possible to relieve the refugees and also exerted our influence against cruelty and oppression. We are keenly alive to every humanitarian interest. The United States has not failed in any wav to make the sentiment of the American people understood and to take every appropriate action, We have taken measures to protect American interests. The Government is not- authorised to go bevmid this. There has been no action justifying an attempt to use armed forces to pacify the Near East nr to accomplish the results desired concerning the inhabitants of the Asia Minor.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. OTTOMAN ROYAL FAMILY. MALTA, October 2. The Princes and Princesses of the Ottoman Rov-al Family, who arrived here from Constantinople, have departed for Naples. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

GREEK REVOLUTION CONSTANTINE'S DEPARTURE. MINISTERS BANISHED. ATHENS, October 2. Before leaving Sicily on Saturday, with his wife and brothers, Constaiitine asked the Revolutionary Committee for a written declaration that his departure 'from Greece would be temporary, but this was refused. The committee granted him £SOOO for the expenses of the journey.— A. and N.Z. Cable. There was no popular demonstration of sympathy for Constaiitine, who departed in the steamer Andros, escorted by the torpedo boat Pergainos. There were emotional scenes at the quay when King George bade farewell to his parents.— Renter. Tt has been decided to send the Greek politicians who were recently arrested by the Revolutionary Committee, to an island, to be selected ' by themselves, pending their trial. M. Politis refused the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, expressing the opinion that the new Cabinet should be wolourless. M. Diomrdes refused the Finance Ministry for, 1 a .similar reason.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LOAM TO GREECE, 'ENGLISH GROUP OIFEBS £85,000. ATHENS. October 2. An English group has offered Greece a loan of £BS,OOO!—A. and N.Z. Cable. VENIZELOS IN LONDON. LONDON, October 2. (Received Oct. 3, at 8.10 p.m.) M. Venizclcs spent the day interviewing Lord Curzon and other nrcminent men, in order to inform himself of the British views. He will see M. Poincare to-morrow at Paris.—A. and N.Z. Cable. REVOLUTIONARY ADMINISTRATION. VENIZETJSTS REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE. BELGRADE, October 3. (Received Oct. 3, at 8.40 p.m.) It is reported from Greece that the new King is practically a prisoner in the Palace The Venizelists refuse to participate in the revolutionary Administration and will onlv accept a legally-elected Government. The troons are refusing to obey the Revolutionary Committee.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE LOCAL RESPONSE. , About half a dozen additional enlistments were received at the Kensington Recruiting Office yesterday.