LONDON CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 128, 23 February 1921, Page 5

LONDON CONFERENCE

BIG THREE DISCUSS SEVRES TREATY EFFORTS TO RECONSTRUCT MAP OF NEAR EAST CHANGED SITUATIOI'J IN GREECE By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. February 21. The Big Three (Britain, France, and Italy) met and began conversations on the Sevres Treaty. Their effort- to reconstruct the map of tho Near East is likely to occupy the rest of the week. Wide divergencies of opinion exist between the Allies over* the ratification. The return of Constantine to Athens has materially altered the position. The French find that Greece pnder Constantine is a very different Greece to that under Venizelos, and are now inclined to favour the return of Thrace to Turkey; nor would France be downhearted if the Greek claims in Asia Minor are whittled down. Britain is not averse to the ratification of the Sevres Treaty with some, rectification, but is strongly averse to handing back the Christian populations to Turkish rule. The meetings between the Turkish delegates and the Kemalists have been delayed owing to the non-arrival of tho latter. —Aus.-N.Z- Cable Assn. REVISION OF TREATY HAZARDOUS TURKEY NOT TO BE TRUSTED. (Rec. February 22, 10.45 p.m.) ' London, February 22. The “Morning Post” states that the British attitude towards tho Sevres Treaty is that Turkey cannot bo trusted to govern the old Empire. This policy was not affected by the establishment of the Kemalist Government or tho Greek elections. Further, it was so difficult to rqach an agreement in settling the Sevres Treaty that it would bo a- hazardous attempt to revise it. Finally, all . the treaties Giang together. the Sevres Treaty were thrown overlxiard it might be a precedent for treating the Vers,'lilies Treaty in the same way. The British delegates, therefore, will not submit concrete proposals, but will be ready to listen to arguments for revision and proposals to give effect thereto. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FORMAL PROCEEDINGS OPEN HISTORIC GATHERING RECALLED POIGNANT CONTRAST FOR GERMAN DELEGATE. London, February 21. Mr. Lloyd George presided over the preliminary meeting at Downing Street of the‘British, French, Dalian, and Japanese delegations. A" formal meeting of the Conference was held afterwards in St. James’s Palace, to which the Greek representatives were invited. The German delegation is expected In London on Sunday. The Conference is being held in the Picture Gallery of the Palace, in the same room where a century ago the state of Europe was settled after Nnp»leon’s banishment, and Blucher was cheered by crowds outside the palace. Tlie contrast next week will be u poignant one for Dr. Von Simons. Portraits of all the monarchs of England adorn the walls, also a picture depicting the King and Queen inaugurating the Australian Commonwealth.

A communique was issued at the conclusion bf the afternoon’s conference, after hearing Al. Calogeropoulos (Prime Minister of Greece) regift'diug tho situation in Asia AJinor. General Gourami reported on the military situation in Cilicia and Asia Minor. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GREEK PREMIER HEARD OFFER TO CLEAR ANATOLIA OF KEMALIST TROOPS. (Roc. February 22, 10.15 p.m.) London, February ' 22. It is understood that at the preliminary conference France and Britain were in agreement to solve the question of Smyrna by' making it semi-autonomous under a Christian governor, with half tho police Turkish and half Christian. It .was also proposed to return to I urkey one-fourth of Thrace. Tho Allies' decision to hear Al. Calogeropoulos was unexpected, and loft . a favourable, impression on the Greek Mission regarding ’.he Allies’ desire for absolute fairness. The conversation, at the conference table was most friendly. At. Calogeropoulos at the conference offered to clear Anatolia of . Mustapha Kemal s troops if the Allies removed the embargo agpinst the Greek Government raising funds in foreign countries. He said the, Greek people were ready' to make any sacrifices to retain the 'Treaty of Sevres. Tho Kemalist delegation arrived at Victoria Station to-night.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. KEMALIST DELEGATES ARRIVE A TRUCULENT LEADER. '(Rec. February 22, 10.25 p.m.) London, February 22. Bekil Sami Bey, ilhe rugged Kemalist leader, in a truculent interview with the "Daily Telegraph,” professed the deepest respect for Tewfik Pasha (Premier of Turkey), who was so kind as to send a representative to meet him on arrival. He had no doubt that both iWogrcisSs would meet, pointing out that both were staying at the same liottVniouqh on different floors. Nevertheless, Tewfik Pasha’s delegation represented nobody and nothing. The Remalists were the sole legal and legitimate representatives of Turkey, and "oald most certainly refuse to co-opcrate m ' Tewfik Pasha, though of course . they could not prevent the conference inviting Tewnk Pasha, and his friends'. Asked if ho considered. the Sevres Treaty a suitable basis for the re-establishment of Eastern peace, Sami Bey said that it it wore so, there would bo no point in coming to London. . . Despite Sami Bey’s arrival it is‘ officially announced that the British Government did not invito the kema-lists.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE GERMAN ATTITUDE . AVAR MINISTER’S AVARNINO. London, February 20. The acpial German attitude is difficult to define. Although Dr. von Simons declared that an abortive London Conference would not mean the immediate enforcement of the Allies terms, tho "Times” correspondent at Berlin wires that the Minister of AVar, who is touring the country, warned the Germans that Germany's "No” would not unish the reparations problem. hno agreement was reached at the London Conference the Allies would employ the strongest and most ruthless methods, with' further occupation in east and west. "Not for nothing,” ho said, ’’had two hundred thousand Poles been thrown I on the German frontier.”—"The Times. ’ CONCESSIONS REGARDED AS SIGN OF AVEAKNESS. , Paris, February 21. i

Tho Minister of War, speaking at the celebration of the fifth Anniversary of the battle of Verdun, said any conccs-

sions the French made to the other side of the Rhine would be regarded as a sign of weakness, but the Government was contemplating tho possibility tof having to show it had not lost its force. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GERMANY’S COUNTER PROPOSALS SCHEME TO AMALGAMATE FRENCH AND GERMAN INDUSTRIES. (Rec. February 22, 11.10 p.m.) London, February 22. The “Daily Chronicle” states tHiat the Berlin Committee of the industrial and financial magnates under Herr Stinnes, which is preparing the reparation coun-ter-proposals has evolved the general outlines of an astonishing scheme for a virtual amalgamation of French and German industries in thirty years far the production and distribution and the establishment of foreign credits, claiming that German exports will benefit without injury to French industry.— Xtis.-TsX Cable Assn.