THE NEAR EAST.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15152, 27 January 1923, Page 7

THE NEAR EAST.

TURKS' CLAIM TO MOSUL, firm BRITISH STAND. LEAGUE MAY BE INVOKED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LAUSANNE, January 24. In the discussion of the Turkish claim to Mosul at the Near Eastern Conference, the Marquis Curzon, who, on behalf of Britain, offered to refer the questions to the League of Nations warned Ismet Pasha" in the plainest terms that the rejection of peace through the League of Nations would be opposed by the League’s full or gapisation. If Turkey relused to slate her case before tiic Council ot the League of Nations, all the League s sanctions would be enforced upon her. “I am here to make peace, npt war,’ said Lord Curzon, “therefore I cannot suffer conditions making lor war. The rejection of our terms would endanger Mosul and make' war possible. If Turkey persists in her refusal we shall invoke the Eleventh Article of the League of Nations Covenant, providing for action in case of danger of war. Ismet Pasha, in his reply, flatly contradicted the British statement. He declared that Mosul belonged naturally to Anatolia and not to Mesopotamia; her natural trade outlet being the Mediterranean and not the Persian Gulf. He said the British had illegally occupied Mosul after the war, and that was a breach of the Mudros Armistice. The whole country, said Ismet, clamoured for release from foreign control, and for the restoration of Turkey. British protection wtfS simply cloaked political and economic absorb tion. Ismet announced that the Turks rejected Lord Curzon s proposal, and pressed for a plebiscite of the vilayet. It is' not thought that there will be a rupture of the conference over the question of Mosul. Though Britain will not sign a treaty that does not deal with Mosul, she is still hoping to And' common ground for dealing with that matter in order that a peace treaty may be signed.

Gallipoli war graves. BURNU AREA IN DISPUTE. TURKS REFUSE CESSION. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) 7 LAUSANNE, January 24. The .Graves Sub-commission of the Near East Conference is faced with a refusal by the Turks to include in the category of Allied, cemeteries the area at Ari Burnu, where so many Anzacs are interred. The Turks insisted that the area should be restricted in order to comprise only the graves already identified, .and excluding the adjacent land, which Australia and New Zealand wish to secure. The British were unable to consider its surrender, and refused to discuss the question further, the French and Italians fully supporting them. The matter will be taken up again to-morrow, when it 15 hoped a settlement will be reached. Plain talk was used when. the Turks made the monstrous demand that "the Anzac cemeteries should be dug up and made smaller. The British flatly refused to consider the proposal, and plainly informed the Turks that British troops occupying Gallipoli wpuld not budge until assurances were given that the cemeteries would be respected.