THE NEAR EAST

Otago Witness, Issue 3611, 29 May 1923, Page 21

THE NEAR EAST

FUTURE OF CYPRUS. LAUSANNE, May 20. The Turks have agreed to recognise the annexation of Cyprus by Great Britain. Turkish citizens will be free to leave for residence in their own country within a year. TROUBLE ON THE MARITZA. ATHENS, May 22. The Turks have blown up a bridge over the Maritza near Karagatch. WARSHIPS SAIL FOR DARDANELLES. LONDON, May 23. Advices from Malta state that the Iron Duke and the destroyers Montrose, Serapis, Seraph, Swallow, Centaur, and Spear are proceeding to the Dardanelles. LAUSANNE, May 23. A despatch from Malta announcing the movements of the British fleet has caused concern in Greek and Turkish circles. The Greeks believe that the intention s to put pressure on the Turks, while the latter affirm that its intention is to cool the ardour of the Greeks. WAR CLOUDS DISPERSED. A N AC 1R KEM ENT R E ACHED. LONDON, May 26. The Lausanne Conference will decide on Saturday whether or not- war will weak out afresh in the East. The Greek ultimatum appeared to make hostilities inevitable. May 27. The menace of war. in the Near East has been removed by an agreement reached at a meeting of the chief Allied delegations at Lausanne, to which the heads of Jugoslavian, Roumanian, and Japanese delegations, and the American representative were invited. It was agreed that a formula be drawn up under which Greece acknowledges responsibility for , war damages in Asia Minor, while Turkey, in view of the state of Greece’s finances, renounces the right to reparation. Inatead of payment, Greece agrees to a rectification of the frontier at Karagatch, the effect of which is that Greece gives up the triangle of territory in Western Thrace between the Arda" and Maritza Rivers and Karagatch. Turkey agrees to the restitution of ships captured from Greece. During the meeting, which lasted three hours, Ismet and M. Venizelos sat side by side. Sir Horace Rumbold and General Pelle appealed for peace. Ismet laid emphasis on the devastations wrought by the Greek armies, while M. Venizelos pleaded Greece’s poverty. THE PR EC 10 ESN ESS OF PEACE. LONDON, May 27. Ismet said that in renouncing reparations Turkey had made the greatest sacrifice for peace. The Serbian delegate opposed the rectification, but was not prepared to resist a settlement. M. Venizelos, on leaving the conference, called out dramatically to the waiting journalists: “It’s peace’’' Interviewed, he said he was delighted. “Never mind the details or the number of ships we must give up. Peace is so precious that it is worth the sacrifice.”

One report says that the terms were proposed by the Allies and read by General Pelle. Another is that Al. Venizelos made the offer, and that the details will be worked out by experts, buf there is every reason to hope that the matter has been settled. Ismet. and M. Venizelos declared that they are fully authorised to make a settlement. The removal of this problem greatly facilitates the work of the conference. REVOLUTION IN BULGARIA. LONDON, May 27. A message from Bucharest via Karlsbad reports a revolutionary outbreak in Bulgaria. The Premier is in flight, having been sentenced to death by the revolu" tionaries. It is reported that many revolutionaries have been killed or arrested. The position is critical.