SECRET TREATY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 181, 26 April 1919, Page 7

SECRET TREATY

ENEMY'S 1914 DEAL WiTH TURKEY

A treaty between Turkey and Georgia signed in September, 1914. of which the following is .a resume,, is of particular interest as the negotiations began in 'July, 1914. alid- it .shows ■•that arrangements were already made between Germany, Austria, and Turkey to. make war together (states ..the Constantinople correspondent of the "Morning Post'). ...In Clause I Turkey recognised the independence: of Georgia and Georgia's "incontestable" rights over the historic territory formed by the following lines: From Togowsk on the Black Sea in a direct line to Apuehir, from Apuchir in a direct line to Alprouz (which would be placed .iinder Georgian sovereignty),'from '.illirouz in'.; a direct, line. ty.Palia, 'from' there to-Assagow, from. Assagcrw to the' frontier of Da'ghestan. .' The. line then descended as far as Salawatt and from there to Lake Gotcha (of which the northern part' is allocated to Georgia),, from Gotcha it ran* north 'to Pal wan, from there to -Ardanouch (to be within the Georgian frontiers). From Ai'danouch the line continued to . the-, original .Tur-kish-Russian frontier- of 1914, as far as the Crorokh River. Alexandropol, Kara, and Erivan remained outside-Georgia. Clause II stated that Turkey would not be opposed .to the formation of a provi-sional-Government.'in the first-section of Georgia to be liberated from Russia troops. Turkey would not offer, opposition if the Georgian Committee/considered it necessary to form a provisional Government on .the left , bank of 'the Chorokh River, which would be within the Turkish frontiers. Clause 111 stated that Turkey would recognise the • independence of- Georgia as soon as that country should be declared independent. By Clause IV Turkey would not appropriate whatever migiit be abandoned by Russia. This' would'be given to Georgia as compensation for'a"hundred years-of serfdom/Turks Not~to Pay. By Clause V Turkish troops were not' to pay during their sojourn on Georgian territory. By- Clause VI. Turkey would place no difficulties in- the way of Georgia receiving, arms and ammunition through .Turkish territory.; on the- contrary, Turkey would lend her aid. By Clause VII the Ottoman Government agreed not to raise difficulties in the way of the Committee for the Liberation' of Georgia organising- a legion on Turkish territory. Turkey promised to help in every way this project, the l'orco to be formed from three categories of people; (1) Prisoners of war in Turkey, Germany) and Austria; (2) Georgian emigrants who as a result of the war had crossed into Turkey; (3) military and civil people arriving in Turkey. All the officers and commanders of the legion were to be nominated by the Committee l'or the Liberation of Georgia. The- Georgians and Turks agreed to (lie, following two sub-clauses to Clause VII: (t) All Georgian soldiers to be under the control of the Georgian' Government; (2) provisional Government of Georgia to 1 nominate and dismiss all officers and members of the Chief Command and Comm'ander-in-Chiefi The Committee must appoint as commander of the Legion a person iii the confidence of the Turkish Government. By Clause VIII, if the Georgian Legion had not the requisite. number.,of officers, the Commandant had the right, to demand from the Turkish Government, sufficient officers to fill the vacancies. The Command-in-Cliicf of the Turkish-and Georgian troops was to bo under the orders of the Commander-" ill-Chief of the Turkish /Army on the Caucasus front. German Money. The Turkish Govcrmncnl would assist Georgia in everything connected with the war, and would give financial assistance in .case of need, sums so advanced to constitute a debt on the Geurgiau State (such money as was ncccssarv Was not received from Turkey but irom Germany. The debt, however, has been repaid, the Georgian l.orces having been organised according to a subsequent treaty with Germany). . , After the conclusion .of peace Turkey would' immediately withdraw ail her troops from Georgian territory, but' during the war tlie'Turkish Government was to ha\e the following rights: (1) Use of all railways and other routes; (2) requisition through the Georgian Government of necessities for the troops; (I!) right of jurisdiction and of promulgating martial laws, but tho general, civil, and criminal jurisdiction, as well us the right of administration, .was-to remain • with the provisional Georgian Government. The Committee for tho Liberation of Georgia undertook: (I) To nid Turkish troops by every means in its power; (2) to carry on pt!22Jianda in favour of Turkey' and against Russia; (3) lo assure a friendly reception to the Turkish troops in Georgia; (4) to keep Turkish troops informed of the position on the Russian front; (5) to facilitate Die transportation and concentration, of Turkish troops during military operations. Various references will be found in Talaat Bey's speeches during tho war to this : -Treaty. As a matter of 'fact, the Georgians carried, out their part'of'tho programme extremely well.