TURKISH DOMINATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 132, 7 June 1938, Page 7

TURKISH DOMINATION

TENSION AT SANJAK Christian-Owned Shops Closed FRENCH CONCESSIONS PROSPECT OF ELECTION FARCE Uy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received June 6, 10.20 p.m. LONDON, June 6. Turkish influence is dominant at Alexandretta, says the Antioch correspondent of tile Daily Telegraph. All Christian-owned shops are closed and the situation is tense, although the provisional Turkish Administrator, Dr. Melek, is preserving order. Meanwhile the League Commission is resuming its pre-election registration. It is disclosed that France guaranteed Turkey a majority over the Syrian nationalists before tiie commission left Europe and in view of this an election in which a free choice no longer exists seems futile. Business is at a standstill. Thousands of Armenians are fleeing, fearing a massacre in the event of Turkish control. Turkish officers in mufti have entered the Sanjak and are mingling with the Turkish population. The Turks have also brought in bands of Arabs and Nationalists from Syria. Alexandretta was formerly part of the Turkish Empire, lost to Turkey after the Great War. For a lime it was under control of the French as an extension of their Syrian Mandate, but as a result of difficulties which arose through the large number ot Turkish inhabitants, it was decidea to give the Sanjak, or district a special status. This was arranged under an agreement signed by France and Turkey in 1936, and the Sanjak of Alexandretta was granted a special status of an autonomous demilitarised territory for which the Republic of Syria (under French mandate) was made responsible in respect of foreign relations and Customs. This compromise between the Turkish demand for an independent State and the French nrnnncnl < n

make the Sanjak a part of Syria ha evidently not worked too well. Tht Turkish inhabitants still hanker aftei the removal of French control anc the position appears to have been ac centuated by the drastic measures o the French Governor against Turkisl terrorism. This, in view of the elec lions to be held in the territory or July 15, after which an independen Government was to be established promised to develop into another in ternational source of friction, but lh< French, with enough trouble already on their hands, are evidently disposer to conciliatory measures. The <i'ov ernor has been replaced by an oflicia more acceptable to the Turks, and i Turk has been appointed chief of thi special police. Martial law has bee> proclaimed.