THE HEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1922, Page 5

THE HEAR EAST.

A SERIOUS VIEW. TURK’S DEFY ALLIES. DANGEROUS SITUATION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Paris, Nov. 23. The Constantinople correspondent of the Journal says the situation is most serious. The Turks believe the Allies are powerless and that they will never send troops to the city. If the Allies had declarer! a state of siege the Turks world have organised a general strike and supplies of electricity, gas, water and bread would have been cut ofi. Should an armed conflict occur the Allied forces will be insufficient, because the Turkish armies from Anatolia, comprising 200,000 men. would soon be brought to the shores of the Bosphorus. There are already three divisions of 12,000 men in Thrace and Constantinople which would be taken between two fires. The Turks have placed guns along the Dardanelles which would be most dangerous to the warships. If t'he Lausanne Conference does not go smoothly serious developments are expected. According to the Lausanne correspondent of the Petit Parisian. Ismet has been instructed to continue the present discussions till the Russians arrive, after which the effect of the Rus-so-Tvrkish Alliance will be seen.

REPLACING RAFET PASHA. MOVE BY ANGORA. Received Nov. 23, 5.5 p.m. 4 Constantinople, Nov. 22. A secret session of the Angora Assembly decided to replace Rafet Pasha, in consequence of certain complaints lodged against him. Ghalib Pasha was appointed civil Governor of Constantinople and Selahed Din Bey military Governor. It is surmised that the Angora Government is chagrined owing to Rafet allowing the Sultan to slip through his fingers. •Constantinople, Nov. 21. A flight of 50 British aeroplanes over the city, in order to mark the beginning of the peace negotiations, created a tremendous impression upon the public. TURKS SEEKING AUTHORITY. REBUKE FROM BRITISH GENERAL. Received November 24, 7.35 p.m. Constantinople, Nov. 23. Rafet Pasha refuses to recognise the Greeks as Allied nationals, declaring the High Commissioner has no business in the city while a state of war continues. General Harington told Rafet Pasha that he Objects to his efforts to drive a wedge into the Allied position at Constantinople and will not allow Rafet to usurp his functions, while the arrest of Greeks by Turks must cease.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. THE DARDANELLES. RUSSIANS OPPOSE FREEDOM. Received Nov. 24, 8.15 p.m. Lausanne, Nov. 23. The territorial commission of the Near East conference has appointed a sub-commission to study the question of the demilitarised zone along the Eastern Thracian frontier ana the regime for the railway and port of Dedeagach to satisfy the Bulgarian demand for an outlet, to which it is understood Ismet Pasha is favorable. It is understood the Russians resolutely oppose the protection and freedom'of the Dardanelles by the League of Nations. M. Vorowsky, the first of the Russian delegation to arrive, says the opposition is based on Russia s fundamental objection to te League as a mere instrument of the bourgeolse nations, and Russia will insist on a method guaranteeing the freedom of the Straits being decided at the conference, at which all the bordering States should participate. He expects to support fully all the Turkish claims, especially the abolition of capitulations. M. Vorowsky will demand that Russia, Burgaria, and other uninvited States shall be admitted to the conference.—Aus.-N.Z. cable Assn.

AN AMERICAN OPINION. TURKEY AND RUSSIA ALLIES. Lausanne, Nov. 23. Ex-Senator Lewis has arrived at Lausanne, representing the American British Oil Railway, which is taking up concessions granted by Kemal. Mr. Lewis said that Turkey had intimated she would respect the concessions, provided Britain and America recognised the Angora Government. He was convinced the Russians and Turks had agreed. to grant the concessions onlj’ on condition of the de jure recognition of both Governments. If the European Governments wanted to recognise Turkey they must also recognise Russia.

DEMANDS OF TURKEY. OPPOSED BY THE POWERS. Lausanne, Nov. 23. The commission on territorial and military questions heard the Bulgarians’ arguments in favor of an outlet to the Aegean. The Turks are stating their view today. The Roumanian. Bulgarian, Greek and Jugo-Slavian delegations conferred, with a view to creating a. united Balkan front, regarding the status • Eastern Thrace and the Bulgarian ont>t. Lord Curzon, expressing the Allied view, said that no> treaty existed supporting the Turkish claim to the right bank of the Maritza. The Powers had no right to revoke the promise contained in the Nate of October 23. A plebiscite on Thrace was impossible. Tt would bo an apple of discord, constituting a real danger to Balkan peace. The. Matin says that. Turkey, confronted by a bloc of all the Powers regarding her European frontiers, can only find support from the Bolsheviks. RAFET PASHA. Constantinople, Nov. 22. A secret session of the Angora Assembly decided to replace Rafet Pasha, in consequence of certain complaints lodged against him. Ghalib Pasha was appointed civil Governor of Constantinople and Salahod Din Bey military

Governor. It is surmised that the Angora Government is chagrined owing to Rafet allowing the Sultan to elip through his fingers. RUSSIAN DELEGATION. London, Nov. 23. The Russian delegation, consisting of Krassin, Tehitcherin and Rakovsky, is en route to Lausanne. TURKS SEEK CONTROL. Constantinople, Nov. 23. A communique has been issued by the Turkish commandant, which is considered to be the thin end of the wedge to a proclamation of Turkish martial law. It prohibits charitable collections without proper authority and the carrying of arms on the penalty of a courtmartial. ROUMANU FOR THE ALLIES. Paris, Nov. 22. Thte Lausanne correspondent of the Petit Parisian is reliably informed that Roumania will participate in any collective military measures in the Near East which the Allies deem desirable. London, Nov. 22. Official circles do not confirm the report that the Kemali-sts have issued a proclamation that the Dardanelles are subject to Angora and are inclined to treat the statement with reserve. Rome, Nov. 22. The Lausanne correspondent »f the Giornale reports that Signor Mussolini announced the settlement of the Dodecanese question.