GRAVE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 19653, 2 October 1922, Page 5

GRAVE NEWS

TUBES RIGHT UP TO BRITISH LINES

MATTERS TO BE BROUGHT TO A HEAD

VIRTUAL ULTIMATUM TO KEMAL

It is semi-officially announced that the Kemalist troops are right up to the British positions in the Chanak area, and that the British Government has authorised the military

authorities to demand the withdrawal of the Turks from the zone. The fixing of a time limit is left to Sir Charles

Harington’s discretion. A Reuter message from Constantinople reports that Kemal Pasha, replying to Sir Charles Harington, suggested that the British should retire from the neutral zone as the French and Italians had done, in which case the Turks would perform only police duties. M. Poincare has demanded an Imnvediate reply from Kemal to the Allied note.

THE CHANAK ZONE. SITUATION STILL GRAVE. TURKS IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE. BRITISH FORCES ADEQUATE. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 29. The Cabinet considered the Near East situation which is still regarded as grave Ministerial circles do not regard seriously a suggestion by General Sir Frederick Maurice that the Turks should be allowed to pass into Thrace. It is pointed out that this is diametrically opposed to the Allies policy not to allow the Turks to enter Europe pending peace. The Star’s Constantinople correspondent states that- the Turkish forces in the neutral zone of the Dardanelles are steadily increasing. The majority of Turkish cavalry have been withdrawn and replaced by infantry. The Turks now occupy the whole zone except an area twenty miles in length and ten miles in maximum depth held by the British. Official circles in London. are of the opinion that British, forces now at Chanak are sufficiently strong to hold on whatever happens. Nevertheless the whole aim of the British policy is to do the utmost possible to prevent a conflict. There is no ground for believing that the Turks are anywhere inside our positions. This hopeful view is taken from the fact that both in his communications with General Harington and France, Kemal takes it for granted that the conference will be held. But the massing of considerable forces immediately outside the British jiositions leads to the presumption that if eventually the Kemalists decided to fight they would seek to provoke the British into firing the first shot in order to be able to tell the Moslem world that they were forced into the war by the Christians. The reported abdication of the Sultan is still unconfirmed. With reference to the suggestion that the Turks should be allowed to enter Thrace before the conference, the official British view is that this is utterly impossible, because it- goes beyond the programme laid down at Paris, where the Allies definitely decided that the Turks should not. be allowed into Thrace, except by decision of the conference. If the Turks are allowed to cross the Sea of Marmora it would probably re-open the GraecoTurkish war, involving a grave danger of the warfare spreading to Europe. The Daily Telegraph’s Constantinople correspondent. states that the Greek revolutionary declaration of their intention to strengthen the Thracian front is considered likely to stiffen Kemal’s attitude, since he may consider that Greece will not accept any Allied decision about, the retrocession of Thrace. French opinion in Constantinople tends to the belief that one of the reasons for the hostility shown to the Allied proposals is that they do not refer to the abolition of the capitulations, which extremists think can now be achieved. If it is done it will mean the destruction of foreign capital and trade in Constantinople, which aspect of the question will hit hardest the whole French policy in Turkey. French sources aver that Kemal informed General Pellc that the strictest orders had been given to the Kemalist troops not to fire a shot; nevertheless, the Turks continue pacifically closing in on the British position. TURKS RIGHT UP TO BRITISH POSITIONS. AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION. KEMAL TO HAVE AN ULTIMATUM. LONDON, September 29. (Received October 1, 5.5 p.m.) It is semi-officially stated in London that the Kemalist troops are right up to the British positions in the Chanak area, so near that they are gazing at the wire entanglements and in some places are actually on the shore of the Dardanelles. The British military authorities are of opinion that the present state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue. The Government therefore has informed the authorities that they will have complete support in demanding the withdrawal of the Kemalist forces from the Chanak neutral zone. The question of accompanying the demand with a time limit is left to Sir Charles Harington and the High Commissioner. Our relations with lurkey are governed by the armistice of October 30, 1918. If Turkey breaks this she gets herself into a state of war. Therefore there is no question of a declaration of war. KEMAL’S REPLY. ARROGANT AND DEFIANT. LONDON NEWSPAPER’S STATEMENT. GREECE THE STUMBLING BLOCK. (United Service.) LONDON, October 1. (Received October 2, 12.20 a.m.) If declarations in the Observer and the Sunday Times, especially the latter, which is in close touch with the Prime Minister, are to be taken at their face value, the Near East tension is about to reach the breaking point. For example, the Sunday Times’s diplomatic article says: “Kemal's reply is arrogant, defiant, and provocative, and justifies the British Government’s decision to bring the controversy to a head. Our rulers desire to be tolerant, patient, and forbearing, but a time comes when the British lion must object to its tail being twisted.”

Similarly the Observer stales that the limit has been reached The concentration of Turkish forces has passed the limits of safety, and the choice before Kemal is withdrawal or war.

Such statements sre obviously inspired. It. is asserted that they are not mere warnings to Kemal that Britain must not. longer be trifled with, but represent the Cabinet’s views of the gravity of the situation. French opinion declines to believe that the position is so itesperate. Marshal Foch's name is again invoked in support of the

contention that the Asiatic shore is only tenable against the Turks by tremendous forces. Such an announcement lends further gravity to the position. It would seem that the Greek position has made matters worse. According to the Observer the stumbling block is Greece, which now hopes to save Thrace. M. Venizelos confirms the report that he has been entrusted with the conduct of Greek interests abroad. It is reported that M. Venizelos will visit Rome after London. Statements from Athens declare that the Greeks assert that they are endangered by the Turk rising in Thrace. On the other hand, the Turkish representative at Paris, Fend Bey, accuses the Greeks of preparing to attack Thrace behind the Allied barrier. That Thrace is the danger point is evident, because the Allied Commissioners at Constantinople sent a mission to Thrace to study the situation in an endeavour to exert a calming influence on both sides. Meanwhile actual reports from Chanak are disquieting. Mr G. Ward Price telegraphs: “Seaplanes detected movements of Turkish infantry towards Chanak. There Is no sign of guns, but they may lie moving up under cover of darkness. The Turks are outwardly friendly, but may be masking hostile intentions.” PROTRACTED CABINET MEETING SITUATION EXTREMELY GRAVE NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT LONDON, October 1. After sitting yesterday afternoon awaiting a despatch from Sir Charles Harington, which has not arrived, the Cabinet sat for two hours until half an hour after midnight, and resumed at 10 this morning. No statement has been made, but the position is extremely grave, as the Turks show no disposition to withdraw from the neutral zone near Chanak. France is anxious to avert a clash between the British and Turks, and believes that the Bouillon’s despatch will help to relieve the tension. Though official opinion in France is optimistic, the French press semi-officially upbraids the British Government for not withdrawing its troops from Chanak. France is afraid that if war breaks out Britain will withdraw her troops from Cologne on the ground that she cannot aid France to enforce peace on Germany as France by withdrawing her troops from Chanak refused to aid in enforcing peace on Turkey. The Daily Express’s Constantinople correspondent states that the Turkish authorities state that Sir Charles Harington is proceeding to Mudania to confer with Kemal. A MESSAGE FROM KEMAL. NO FURTHER ADVANCE. ANXIOUS TO MEET BRITISH COMMANDER. (Reuter's Telegrams, i CONSTANTINOPLE, September 29. Replying to Sir Charles Harington’s telegram Kemal declares that his troops will not advance further. He desires that no incident should occur, and will seize the earliest opportunity for meeting Sir Charles Harington. ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM KEMAL. BRITISH WITHDRAWAL SUGGESTED. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) CONSTANTINOPLE, September 30. (Received October 2, 12.20 a.m.) Replying to Sir Charles Harington’s second note requesting withdrawal from, the neutral zone, Kemal Pasha states that if the British are prepared to withdraw from the Asiatic coast as the French and Italians have done he will order his forces to withdraw slightly and only act in a police capacity. He announces his departure for Angora to meet the National Assembly, but he will meet. Sir Charles Har- i ington on the earliest possible occasion. FRENCH REMONSTRANCE TO KEMAL. 1 IMMEDIATE REPLY DEMANDED. ' PARIS, September 30. (Received October 2, 12.20 a.m.) ! M. Poincare telegraphed to M. Bouillon ■ insisting on Kemal replying without delay I to the Allied note. M. Bouillon met Kemal ; at Smyrna, and had a long conversation, j proceeding to Angora with Kemal. FRENCH MILITARY OPINION. PARIS. October 1. (Received October 2, 12.20 a.m.) The Petit- Parisien states that French military experts, including Marshal Fcch, regard the Chanak position as incapable of being held, and favour the natural protec tion which the Chataldja line offers. The paper is of opinion that the only remedy will be for both British and Turks to evacuate the neutral zone. FRANCE TO STAND OUT. PARIS, September 30. (Received October 2, 12.20 a.m.) It is authoratively stated that France will not participate in any Anglo-Turkish conflict. GREEK POST ATTACKED. TURKS BEATEN OFF. ATHENS, September 30. (Received Octoiler 1, 5.5 p.m.) A communique dated September 29 states: The enemy entered the neutral zone and occupied Esafaalan, killing seven soldiers and manning an outpost. We dislodged the enemy by means of a counterattack. The enemy lott 26 killed. Our losses were one killed and one wounded, i