THE NEAR EAST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18750, 2 January 1923, Page 7

THE NEAR EAST

LAUSANNE NEGOTIATIONS. THE MOSUL CONTROVERSY. TURKEY UNYIELDING. jrress Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LAUSANNE, December 29. Ismet Pasha, interviewed for tho Paris Matin, said; “The negotiations have reached a difficult stage, and the Mosul controversy makes them almost tragic. As for the Minorities the Powers want an influence that would make our sovereignty useless. I will never accept that.” The Turks, replying to the British Note regarding Mosul, declare the Vilayet must remain theirs. If a plebiscite had been taken without British occupation tho people would have pronounced in favour of Turkey. The Turks regret that the question was dealt with by public memoranda. They do not oppose the suggestion that Anglo-Turkish experts should study Mosul's population from a statistical viewpoint.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The Turkish replv to Lord Curzon regarding Mosul completely maintains the previous viewpoint, renuiring that Mosul be incorporated with Turkey.—Reuter. THE MINORITIES QUESTION. RUSSIA’S PROPOSAL. LAUSANNE, December 30. Russia has sent a Note to the Conference declaring that the Soviet has abandoned the secret treaties made in 1916 between the Allies and the Czar, under which Constantinople, the Dardanelles, and part of Western Thrace were to be given to Russia. The Soviet proposes the convocation of a. special international conference to consider all the ouestiofis relating to the Minorities. —A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA’S DEMAND. LAUSANNE, December 29. America has pi-escuted a Note demanding an extension of tho amnesty to the populations who fled from Turkey, and that the concession shall nob be confined to those who remained. —A, and N.Z. Cable. TURKISH COMMUNIQUE. ACCUSATION AGAINST BRITAIN. CONSTANTINOPLE, December 23. Tho newspapers give prominence to an official communique issued by the Angora Government stating that Britain, contrary' to the Mudania Convention, is fortifying the outskirts of Constantinople.—A. and N.Z. Cable fLrvAL DISARMAMENT. M. TOHITCHERIN’S APPEAL. LAUSANNE, December 29. M. Tchitcherin has issued a Note appealing to the United States to see that the naval disarmament instituted at Washington should bo general. TOKIO, December 29. The Privy Council adopted a Resolution condemning the policy of the Kafco Cabinet. —A. and N.Z. Cable. FORTIFYING GALLIPOLI. BRITISH PREPARATIONS. THE THRACIAN FRONTIER GREEK TROOPS REINFORCED. ATHENS, December 29. The British are reported to be hurriedly fortifying Gallipoli. They are employing 10.000 labourers. The Government is reinforcing ' tho Greek troops on the Thracian frontier, and. it is rumoured, has prepared for an offensive.—The Times. KHALIFAT CIRCLES PERTURBED. THE CONGRESS ADJOURNED DELHI, December 31. The unfavourable news from the Lausanne Conference has considerably stirred the Khalifat Congress circles. A representative of the Punjnubi Mohammedans moved an adjournment to consider the situation with a view to the immediate launching of muss civil disobedience. The motion was defeated. Congress has adjourned.—Reuter. BRITISH IN CONSTANTINOPLE. WARNED TO BE READY TO EVACUATE. OFFICERS ON FURLOUGH RECALLED. LONDON, December 31. (Received Dec, 1, at 7.5 p.in.) The Daily Mail’s Constantinople correspondent reports that the British Consulate has warned Britishers to be ready to evacuate at 24 hours’ notice. Officers on furlough have been recalled.—A. and N.Z. Cable. 1 KEMALIST THREAT. MOVEMENT OF TROOPS. ATHENS, January 1. (Received Jam 1, at 8.30 p.m.) An Athens telegram reports that the Kemalist troops are preparing a move against Mosul and Constantinople. One column has arrived at Djizamart, another is advancing oii the Tigris, and a third is concentrating on Adahazar. The Morning Post’s Constantinople correspondent states that the British colony for the third time in six months has been warned to he prepared to leave in 24 hours. Many ships are standing by to assist traders to remove their stocks, which it is hoped to save in the event of evacuation.—A. and N.Z. Cable. REINFORCEMENTS SENT TO MOSUL. LONDON, December 31. (Received Jan. l v at 5.5 p.m.) An Athens telegram reports that the Turks have sent reinforcements to 'Mosul. A division of 6000 has left Van for Mosul. The Sunday Express’s Constantinople correspondent reports that there was a hitter struggle in the National Assembly at Angora regarding tho acceptance of tho Allied proposals. M. Aravoff, the Soviet representative, urged the extremists to reject tho terms, while Kemal favours acceptance.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CAPITAL OF TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, December 31. (Received Jan. 1, at 9.5 p.m.) The People’s Commissaries decided that Angora shall continue to be the capital of Turkey.—A. and N.Z. Cable. PLIGHT OF REFUGEES. OUTBREAK OF SMALLPOX. CONSTANTINOPLE, December 31. (Received Jam 1, at 9.5 p.m.) Four Black Sea refugee vessels brought 3CO smallpox cases. The Turkish doctors vaccinated 4000 passengers, hut refused to permit any to land. The Allies are helping to combat the epidemic.