THE NEAR EAST

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 19

THE NEAR EAST

LAUSANNE NEGOTIATIONS. PROPOSED TREATY. FARIS, January 29. The latest Lausanne messages state that the Turks are almost certain to reject the proposed treaty. M. Poincare has written to Keinal Pasha suggesting that he shoula adopt a conciliatory attitude, and urging him to conclude peace. TWO CONVENTIONS SIGNED. LAUSANNE, January 30. Two -conventions —the first for an exchange of populations, and the second for an exchange of war prisoners and civil hostages—were signed to-day. The former becomes part of the Peace Treaty, and it will operate after the treaty has been signed. The latter is outside the treaty and it will operate immediately. At a plenary session to-morrow the Allies will present the peace terms arid the Turks will submit counter-proposals. The Straits Commission will meet on Thursday. It is generally expected that the Russians will neither attend the meeting nor sign the Straits Convention. It is understood that the treaty closely follows the conference decisions. Turkey recognises Britain's annexation of Cyprus and Egypt’s status; also the French interests in Morocco and Tunis; a buffer State to be created between the Turks and Greeks in the Maritza region. Autonomy will be conferred on Imbros and Tenedos under Turkish sovereignty. THE DRAFT TREATY. LONDON, January 3i. The Morning Post's Paris correspondent states that the French Note declares that .the draft treaty does not constitute final terms, which cannot be further discussed, but is merely a document setting out the present state in the negotiations. France has already made more concessions tuan are consistent with French inteiest-s. She will not refuse other reasonable concessions if sufficiently supported, and she is prepared to continue negotiations when and where it is deemed suitable. The French view is, apart from the Ruhr, that Europe is again a powder magazine which a spark mav touch unless the elements on the surface at Lausanne are delicatelv handled. It is stated by another correspondent that the Italian delegation at Lausanne agrees with the French Note. PARIS, Januarv 30. Official: France informed Great Britain, Italy, and Angora that she does not consider that the draft treaty represents the final terms. France intimates that she is prepared indefinitely to negotiate the disputed points with Angora. LAUSANNE, January 30. Interviewed after perusing the draft of the treaty, a leading Turkish delegate expressed surprise at some of the contents, especially the financial clauses, in which he said new elements which were not disclosed to the commission had been introduced. It appeared that the Allies intended to open the wav to bargaining. The draft of the treaty would be communicated to Angora, but acceptance in its present form was regarded as quite impossible. POSITION STILL OBSCURE. LONDON, January 31. Serious consequences are anticipated from the French Note to Angora. The French Government communicated with Great Britain, explaining France’s intention, and declared that every effort would be made to avoid a rupture, which would be prejudicial to French interests : but the French Note to Angora was published before Lord Curzon received the French despatch. The Erench action occasioned great agitation among the British Delegation. which issued a statement discrediting the reported issue of the French Note to Anrora, and remarking that it would he a flagrant violation of the mutual undertaking given bv the Allied plenipotentiaries onlv a few days ago if such a Note w°**e to Po issued without reference to the British Delegation. ISMET ASKS FOR TIME. LAUSANNE, January 31. Tsmet. Pasha, in renlvinor to the Allies, asked for a fortnight in which to consider the treaty, also that the Commissions might reassemble in a week. He said he hoped in the meantime that all efforts would be made to secure peace. STATEMENT BY LORD CURZON. LAUSANNE, January 31. Lord Curzen granted the Turks a delay until Sunday evening. Hg intimated that he would remain till next week. In presenting the treaty, Lord Curzon said that by far the greater part had been examined, argued, and revised with the Turkish delegation’s assistance over and over again. To a not inconsiderable portion the Turks had already assented. It was not possible for the Turkish delegation to declare that they were confronted with surprises or menace. The Allies had unanimously concluded that more could not be expected from further meetings. Accordingly there had been -drawn, in the form of a definite treaty, the essential conditions on which an honourable peace could be concluded. Lord Curzon added that the treaty represented the combined offer to Turkey bv all the Power’s primarily interested in the re-establishment of the peace or v elfare of the Turkish people. The treaty was an appeal, not to Angora or the populations of Europe alone, but to the public opinion of the world. When the terms of the Sevres Treaty were con-

trasted with the present instrument, he did not think anyone would be found to complain of lack of generosity. He did not object to allowing time for reflection whether the conference continued at Lausanne or elsewhere, but he could not agree to further bargaining. Signor Garroni strongly advised the Turks to sign. Ismet Pasha, replying, said that the Turks were animated bv a sineeTe desire for peace; hut the treaty contained articles which had never been discussed. THREATS OF RETALIATION. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 31. The Turkish press is unanimous in abusing France for what it considers unacceptable terms in the draft treaty at Lausanne. Charges of perfidy, mixed with threats of retaliation in ‘ Smyrna, are made. The public were led to believe that Mosul was the only difficulty, but they are dismayed to find that the questions of capitulations and the Ottoman public debt figure among the conditions. The French are accused of trying to slip in objectionable clauses on the strength of | Britain’s quarrel over Mosul. The newspaper Yenigan reminds France that in the event of a fresh war the last vestiges of the Ottoman public debt will disappear, i In anv case the French have no business | in Syria. KEMAL PASHA’S OATH. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 29. Praying at his mother's grave on the eve of his departure from Smyrna for Angora, in the.presenee of a great crowd, Kemal swore by his mother's soul to dei fend the country’s newly-won liberties. I “I would rather join you in your gra”e,” I he said, “than allow Turkey’s sovereignty ! to be imperilled.” I Some of the Turks deplore such inci-* dents which, they say, are usually a prelude to warlike operations, hut the Anatolians declare that they will not wait any longer, and thev will refuse to have further parleys. This may be bluff, but the National Assembly, according to reliable sources, professes its determination to take the matter from the delegates at Lausanne. I Turkish preparations on the Mosul border continue. The Turks are spreading reports that millions of Egyptians, Indians, and Afghans are ready to fight against Great Britain. KEMAL PASFIA MARRIED. CONSTANTINOPLE, Januarv 30. ! Kemal Pasha has surprised everybody by being married at Smyrna to-dav to the daughter of a leading local notable. LONDON, January 30. The Daily Mail’s correspondent at Constantinople says : “ Kemal Pasha sprang a surprise on the Turks by getting married. He delayed his hurried return to j Angora sufficiently to enter the bonds of ' matrimony with Latife Hanum, aged 19, the daughter of a wealthy Smyrna notable. The bride is good-looking. She wag educated in France. Her dowry amounts to £130,000. Kemal met her recently while residing in her father’s house after driving the Greeks out of Smyrna. ISMET AUTHORISED TO SIGN. LONDON, February 1. p i 6 reported from Lausanne that Ismet . Pa!f*>ia has been authorised to sign the ! treJfty, first exhausting all opportunities to obtain the maximum concessions. THE BRITISH CLAIM. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 30. With reference to the British claim in regard to the cemeteries at the Dardanelles, the Turkish newspapers publish gruesome photographs of a pyramid of skulls and human bones, which they state represent 66,000 Turkish soldiers who sacrificed their lives on Gallipoli. LORD CURZON’S FIRM STAND LAUSANNE, January 23. Lord Curz.on, in a speech in reply to Turkey's decision regarding the Gallipoli graves, said : “ Men came from Australia and New Zealand and the ends of the earth to fight for the noblest of causes. Cannot we allow them the dignity of peace? The ground is valueless to Tur key or to any other human being, but to Australia and New Zealand it is a matter of the deepest sentimental con sideration. It is impossible for any nation to take a different view of its dead. We will not haggle over our dead soldiers. Not a man will be removed from Gallipoli until this question is settled in decency and honour.” Ismet Pasha replied that he had the deepest respect for all who fell on Gallipoli. lie promised to respect the cemeteries, hut the area belonged to the Turks, and he asked for the Tight of control. Ismet Pasha’s reply to Lord Curzon pointed out that the Gallipoli cemeteries occupy an area as large as Ouchy. Turkey is willing to respect the cemeteries, but wanted to control Anzac Beach, which had been used for landing troops and might be similarly used again. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 28. The newspaper Illeri declares: ‘‘The question of Australasian cemeteries has been raised by the British in order to retain Gallipoli. This is a masterpiece of . hypocrisy.” COLONEL HUGHES'S VIEWS. LONDON, January 29. Colonel Hughes, in a message from Chanak, declares that the Kemalists are supposed to have a plan for the overthrow of the British within a few hours. 1 They have large numbers of men available in Constantipole; but they could cause very little military damage to the British, and would suffer severely themselves. Our forces could always get away, concentrate at Kelia, and hoid

C'hanak and Kelia till the moment for the offensive arrived. ‘"I do not think,” said Colonel Hug'ies, “that there is much likelihood of the Kemalists putting anv plan into operation. I have not the slightest doubt that after we do leave Constantinople there will be many acts of vengeance, but the Turks will quarrel among themselves for the plums of office. Furthermore, owing to the mobilisation of the forces, no ploughing is in progress, and the country is faced with famine. Thrace and Anatolia have not one-tenth of the area under cultivation that thev had a year ago. Probably Turkey will appeal to Britain, as the greatest Mohammedan Power, to feed her.” The graves work is proceeding, though it is delayed by bad weather ana loss of all Greek and Armenian workmen, who fled upon the arrival of the Turkish police. Their places have been taken by Russians and local Turks, who are giving no trouble. They understand that the firmest stand will be made by old Anzacs in connection with the cemeteries in the event of trouble. They are determined that all their comrades shall sleep in peace on Gallipoli. REINFORCING MOSUL GARRISON. BAGDAD, January 23. The Secretary to the High Commissioner has notified that it has been decided to reinforce the garrison at Mosul with certain Army and Air Force units from Bagdad. It is also understood that a battalion of the Irak army is moving up. It is considered most unlikely’ that the Turks will act in open hostility while negotiations are in progress, but it is feared that they may’ instigate the frontier tribes to aid the Mosul vilayet. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 51. Troops from Basra and Bagdad are continuing to reinforce Mosul with a view to eliminating the possibility of the Turks inciting Kurdish raids. The mam Turkish concentration is now' on the frontier 100 miles north-west of Mosul. KING HUSSEIN’S VIEWS. LAUSANNE, January 30. King Hussein addressed a Note to the Conference vigorously protesting against the Turkish claim to Mosul, saying that Mosul was undoubtedly’ an integral part of Irak. APPEAL TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS. LONDON, January 30. The Irak Government has forwarded an appeal to the League of Nations expressing its firm intention to defend its rights and the original boundaries of its country. PARIS, January 36. At a meeting of the Council of the League of Nations the Earl of Balfour announced that, if the Turks rejected arbitration by the league, and as a consequence peace seemed threatened. Britain would invoke Article 11 of the Covenant, which provides that the league shall take .action to safeguard the peace of nations in the event of any’ threat of war. The council merely took a note of the Earl of Balfour's declaration, and passed on to other business. In his address "before the League of Nations Council, in which he announced that if the Turks rejected arbitration in connection with the Irak frontiers, Britain would invoke article 11 of the Covenant, the Earl of Balfour said that Britain was simplv acting in accordance with her mandate. He regretted that the Turks did not accept Lord Curzon’s proposal that the League should arbitrate regarding the frontiers of the mandated territory, and he ' hoped this, which was the fairest method of dealing with the matter, would ultimately he accepted. He thought the world’s peace would not be threatened, but nevertheless precautions must be taken. If there was no threat and no danger of an attack on the Irak frontiers, no nation would rejoice more than Britain. Although Turkey was not a member of the League she could participate in the discussion, in which she would be welcome and in which she would be treated with justice and perfect equality. M. Viviani said that no Power, whether a member of not, need fear anv lack in the Council’s fairness. The Council had noted Lord Curzon’s appeal and would not take action until peace was endangered . POSITION IN CONSTANTINOPLE. LONDON, January 30. It is authoritatively stated that the action of the Government in submitting the Mosul ouestion to the League of Nations has been considered and fully approved bv King Feisul and the Government of Irak. The Daily Mail’s Lausanne correspondent says:—“Should the Turks try to regain Mosul, an offensive could not start for several weeks, as the mountain passes are blocked by’ snow. The Turks have about 13,000 rifles. Seven thousand auxiliaries are concentrated n the Diarbekir area., but they have no aircraft capable of combating ours. “If war comes an early attempt will probably be made to drive out the Allies* from Constantinople. The Turks have about 50.000 men in the area around Ismid and Brusa, and there is only one road available to bring them to the Bosphorus, where almost the whole of the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets are concentrated, making it extremely difficult to cross. “The Turks have illegally formed an army of 30,000 in Eastern Thrace, thus threatening Constantinople from the rear. The Greeks have about 60,000 on the Maritza line.” STRATEGIC POSITIONS. PARIS, January 29. Le Temps states that the Kemalists will he at a great disadvantage if they resume hostilities, as the British fleet 'holds the Dardanelles and the Sea of Marmora.

TURCO-GREEK OUTPOSTS CLASH. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 28. A serious view is taken of the situation and all preparations have been completed for the evacuation of British subjects. Encounters between Greek and Turkish outposts along the Maritza are daily becoming more frequent. Angora official circles assert that the National Assembly will be asked to make an important final decision unless the British alter their attitude. Ismet Pasha will issue a proclamation to the world explaining Turkey’s position, and he will then leave Lausanne. Subsequently the Turkish army will move towards Mosul. The Turkish press bitterly attacks the British Government. It says that after trying to dupe Turkey’ the Allies have thrown aside their mask. ATHENS, January 31. The Greek Cemmander-in-Chief declared that the neutral zone no longer existed. The presence of a Turkish armyin East Thrace was a violation of the Mu dania Convention, freeing Greece from any engagement. LONDON, Febiuary 2. A Daily Express message from Salonika states that Greece has 100,0C0 bayonets in the field, and troop trains are arriving at the front continually. The army’ lias made a wonderful recovery from its recent debacle, and the temper of the people is behind the army’. The decision to exchange populations has provoked most violent protests to Lausanne. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. PARIS. Eebruary 2. Hamid Bey and Mehmed Bey—two members of the Turkish delegation at Lausanne —prior to leaving Marseilles expressed the belief that there would not be a resumption of the Gi’aeco-Turkish war, but it would be prudent to draft allied troops into Thrace to avoid any possible encounter. They hoped that the questions regarding Mosul and Gallipoli would he settled by a plebiscite. M. POINCARE MISUNDERSTOOD. PARIS, February 1. The French maintain that the British interpretation of M. Poincare s communication with Kemal Pasha is wholly unjustified. M. Poincare merely urged Kemal to accept the draft treaty, pointing out that the Allies had made great concessions to the Turks and that the Allies patience was exhausted. The Kemalists misunderstood this despatch, believing that it was implied that they must either accept or reject the treaty’, and that rejection mean war. The Government thereupon telegraphed to Kemal explaining that the treaty was in no sense an ultimatum. On the contrary, the Allies were willing to consider objections and even counter-proposals. If the Turks wanted longer time in which to decide, the French delegates would stay at Lausanne a few days longer. The Note was communica-ed to Britain on Saturday. The press emphasises the fact that M. Poincare’s telegram expressed views completely agreeing with those of the British, and that it was communicated to laird Crewe (British Ambassador), who thanked M. Poincare. RUSSO-TURKISH ALLIANCE. LAUSANNE, January 31. A general outline of the Russo-Turkisli defensive alliance has become known. It provides in the event of the Balkan Powers, particularly Rumania ana Serbia, intervening against Turkey, that Russian forces will occupy Bessarabia. lroops have already concentrated in Jifcmai. KEMALISTS’ WARLIKE TONE. CONSTANTINOPLE, February 1. The French proposal to continue negotiations has been received with great satisfaction in Turkish official circles, where it is regarded as proof that the Allied front at Lausanne is broken. It is confidently expected that Britain will thus be isolated, and will be forced to concede the Turkish demands. The speeches at the secret session of the National Assembly at Angora were warlike in tone. The Chief Commisar said : “ Let us remember what we did at Atom Karahissar. We are ready again to preserve our independence if the Allies refuse our just demands.” Kemal Pasha in a speech at Smyrna said: “We will not rest until we have obtained our independence.” RUSSIA AND THE STRAITS. LAUSANNE, February 1. At a meeting of the Straits Commission Ismet Pasha asked for the maintenance of a garrison on Gallipoli and an unlimited force in Thrace. M. Tchitcherin declared that Russia could not accept a convention. He desired to suggest modifications and to propose new concessions to the Soviet. Lord Curzon said that the Allies could not reconsider the position. M. Tchitcherin declared that the question of the Dardanelles remained open, so far as Russia was concerned, for she would refuse to sign the convention. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. PARIS, January 29. Le Matin reproduces a Belgrade report stating that Ismet Pasha and M. Tchitcherin have concluded a secret treaty which has been approved by the Turkish and Russian Governments, under which the Turks and Russians will undertake to help one another in the event of a resumption of hostilities between the Turks and Greeks or of war between Britain and Turkey. In the latter event the Russians will send several divisions to Mesopotamia. The treaty also provides for the despatch of Russian tnxps to Thrace through Bulgaria, CONCESSIONS TO TURKEY FINAL. LAUSANNE, February 3. "M. Poincare has instructed M. Bompard to support the British, and to tell Ismet

Pasha that the Allied concessions are final, and must he accepted. It is understood that the concessions include the abandonment of the demand for limitation of the Turkish forces in East Thrace, a reduction of war damages from £15,000.000 to £12,000,000, and the renunciation of judicial capitulations, butl demanding the appointment of European judicial advisers in the reorganisation of the Turkish judiciary. The Mosul question will be referred to arbitration, and not to a plebiscite. TURKEY’S INTENTIONS. LONDON, F ebruary 4. There is the keenest interest as to whether the Turks will sign the treaty today. Uncertainty prevails in the bestinformed circles at Lausanne regarding Ismet Pasha’s intentions, or whether the latest concessions will influence the decision. The Turkish rejection will not only embroil Britain and Turkey, but will'shatter the Entente in view of France's readiness to negotiate a separate treaty with Turkey, and the French resentment at Britain for not participating in the Ruhr adventure.