THE NEAR EAST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18851, 2 May 1923, Page 7

THE NEAR EAST.

LAUSANNE CONFERENCE. GENERAL PELLE INTERVIEWED. CONFIDENCE IN SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright PARIS, April 30. General Pelle, interviewed by Le Matin, expressed his confidence in the successful conclusion of tho Lausanne Conference. Ismet Pasha repeatedly desired to see Franco-Turkish misunderstandings dispelled. Unfortunately Mutapha Hemal's views were different, but General Pelle did not believe that his threatening gestures in reference to I ranee need cause uneasiness. Ho was convinced that the Angora Assembly was aware of the hazards involved in a resumption of hostilities.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

TURKS ANXIOUS FOR PEACE

ARMY BADLY EQUIPPED,

OPINION OF GREEK PRISONER

ATHENS, April 30. General Cladas, who was a prisoner of war in Turkey, has returned. He declares that the Kemalist army is in a lamentable state, being miserably equipped and poorly nourished. He states that the Turks are anxious for peace. The War Party in the last Angora Assembly num bered only 60, and the dissolution was primarily due to Hemal’s desire to paralyse the War Party’s efforts. General Cladas states that Hemal is confident that the electors will vote for peace. The Soviet is assisting the Turkish army with foodstuffs by way of the Caucasus.—A.- and N.Z. Cable. GREEK BANK DEPOSITS.

SEIZURE BY THE TURKS

LONDON, April 30.

The Daily Express’s Athens correspondent states tliat the Turks seized the contents of strong boxes belonging to the Greek clients of the Orient Bank in Smyrna. It is believed that they intend to do the same at the other banks. It :s officially stated that if the Turks seize all the Greek deposits, aggregating £2,500,000, Greece will regard it as an act of war.—A. and N.Z. Cable.