NEAR EAST CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18439, 24 March 1922, Page 9

NEAR EAST CONFERENCE.

PARIS, March 22. The Near East Conference has opened at Quai Dorsay. Broadly speaking the French desire the remodelling of the Sevres Treaty, the withdrawal of Greeks from Asia Minor and the restoration of sufficient territory in Thrace to enable Turkey to properly protect Constantinople. France also regards the Angora Government as more representative of real Turkish aspirations. The British view inclines in favour of the Greeks, who desire to have the Bouillon Treaty repudiated. In view of M. Poincare’s adverse criticism of the treaty last year, he may agree to some modification.

A telegram from Berlin states that Herr Wirth does not intend to attend the Genoa Conference unless President Poincare and Mr. Lloyd George take part. Germany’s delegation will be sixty, including Hermes, Minister of Finance. WASHINGTON, March 22.

The State Department has announced that the United States Government will have neither official nor unofficial representation at the Near East Conference in Paris. The United States, however, will be kept closely* informed by its Ambassador at Paris regarding all steps taken at the Conference. The same course will be pursued respecting the Genoa Conference, the Ambassador at Rome reporting on developments. It is understood that President Harding believes that American interests will be seriously hampered by the fact that the United States will not be represented on the Reparation Commission, and hopes Congress will authorise such representation. The Near Eastern Conference decided on the proposed suspension of all hos.tilities between the Greece and Angora Governments for three months. The forces are to be immediately withdrawn from contact and the movement of reinforcements stopped.