NEAR EAST CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18442, 28 March 1922, Page 5

NEAR EAST CONFERENCE.

IMPORTANT DECISIONS. GRECO-TURKISH ARMISTICE PROPOSALS. TURKEY’S LOSSES RESTORED. The Near Eastern Conference has drafted conditions for an armistice between Greece and Turkey. As a result Turkey gets back practically all that Indian Mohammedans demanded.

GRECO-TURKISH ARMISTICE TURKEY’S WAR LOSSES RESTORED. Received March 27, 7.30 p.m. PARIS, March 27. The Near Eastern Conference made an official statement that Ureco-Turkish proposals are based on a desire Firstly—To re-establish TurkoGreek peace, not imposing any conditions suggesting the defeat of either. Secondly—To re-estabiish the national power of the Turks under conditions ■permitting resumption of independent nationality and the retention of Constantinople. Thirdly—To ensure Musselmans the most equitable regime. Fourthly— to maintain the secular and religious authority of the Sultan, the conference on the other hand to compensate the Greeks for their sacrifices on behalf of the Allied cause during war time. If this operation is successfully carried out, Turkey’s sovereignty will be assured over Anatolia. Thus Constantinople and a large portion of Eastern Thrace will remain under the Sultan’s complete sovereignty. The territory in the neighbourhood of the Straits will be demilitarised, whether remaining in the Turkish Empire or passing to Greek sovereignty. Protection of Armenians will be entrusted to the League ot Nations, and Turkey’s financial independence will be largely respected. Greece and Turkey will be Invited to depute representatives to discuss the proposals within three weeks.

ZEALOUS PRESSMEN INTERROGATED. LONDON, March 26. The Near East Conference, resenting the intimate accounts published in Paris newspapers, surpassing the official communiques, took the unprecedented step of summoning a correspondenyand questioning another privately regarding the sources from which they obtained their information. POLITICAL CIRCLES EXCITED. LONDON, March 26. The Morning Post’s correspondent states that the suddeu decision of M. Schanzer to leave tor England to interview Mr. Lloyd George has excited political circles because, owing to the leakages from Ministers’ deliberations, it is believed the later sittings of the conference have not been cordial. COMPLETE AGREEMENT REPORTED. LONDON, March 26. The Daily Chronicle’s Paris correspondent states that the conference reached a complete agreement regarding the Near East. It is assumed that the Turks get neither Gallipoli nor Adrianople, the south side of the Straits are not to be placed under international control as provided in the Treaty of Sevres, but given wholly to the Turks. The new Thrace frontier will be from the Sea of Marmora to the Black Sea.

REPORTED DECISIONS. PARIS, arch 26. The Echo de Paris says that the French viewpoint prevailed in the Near East Conference in respect to the revision ot the financial clauses of the Sevres Treaty, and asserts that the former administration of the Ottoman debt was confirmed 'in its prerogatives. Italy is to be given a chance to extend her material interests in the Near East. It is likely Gallipoli will be left to the Greeks, while the Asiatic side of the Straits will be neutralised, but removed from the Straits Commission, whose authority is to be limited to the European side. Foreign Ministers are inclined to accept the British thesis in regard to the Thracian boundaries. Lord Curzon accepted a slight withdrawal of the RodostoMidia line towards the west, but refused to make any farther concession.