THE NEAR EAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1922, Page 3

THE NEAR EAST.

SECRET CABLE TO MASSEYWILFORD ASKS AND GETS A COPY. AUSTRALIAN and n.z. cable association. WELLINGTON, September 18. The following is Mr Massey's reply to Mr T. Wilford, who sent a request for a copy of the communication received from the Imperial Government: “Dear Sir,--1 am in receipt of your letter of this morning, and, in reply, I desire to enclose for your information a copy of the secret telegram received by me from Mr Lloyd George. The dispatch from the Prime Minister of Great Britain, was considered in full Cabinet this morning, and it was decided to send a reply to the effect that the New Zealand Government desired to associate itself with the Government of Great Britain in any course of action that was decided upon, and was prepared to sened a contingent.—Yours etc., —(Signed) W. F. Massey.” It is understood that Mr Wilford's letter reached Mr Massey at 11 o’clock this morning during a sitting of an important Executive Council meeting. This was followed hy a full Cabinet meeting at which Mr Lloyd George’s despatch was considered in all its aspects.

The Prime Minister's reply to Mr Wilford was delivered at the hitter’s office at one o’clock.

LABOR VIEWS. CHRISTCHURCH. September 18. “As far as I know,” said Mr das. M’Comlis, M.P., “no members of Parliament have been consulted in connection with this matter.” Mr M'C'ombs was speaking in reference to a suggestion in the London cablegram that the offer of New Zealand contingents has been already made by the Prime Minister, Mr Massey. Before Mr Massey- made any offer remarked Mr McCombs, Parliament should be consulted. He said: “Parliament, and not the Prime Minister is the supreme authority in this country. There might he some excuse for immediate action, if Parliament was not actually assembled as it now is.

“The whole thing will have t'> ho carefully considered, before tin’s little country is plunged into any further responsibility in connection with a war in Europe or in Asia”, was M'Combs's reply regarding his own attitude. CHRISTCHURCH. Sept. 18.

Mr D. G. Sullivan, Laboui M.P.. when he was informed of the contents of Air Massey’s message, issued this afternoon, said:—“The Prime Minister’s action has been taken without consulting Parliament. It is an undeserved snub to the Parliament and to the people of this country. With Parliament now in session, the very least that the Prime Minister could have done was to have submitted his proj osnl to the representatives of the etimmunity. It is for parliament, as representing the people of New Zealand to determine matters of such momentous concern.” IN OTHER PLACES. " CHRISTCHURCH, September 18. Between nine and twelve o’clock about 50 applications, many from returned soldiers, were received for service in any contingent that may he sent to the Dardanelles.

Uv this afternoon, about one hundred would-be recruits had registered their names at the Christchurch Aren Office for « Dardanelles Contingent. Most of the applicants seemed to be men who are in good spirits, and who are enjoying regular employment.

A few of the volunteers wore youths but most of them have had piovious war service, some at Gallipoli, anil some elsewhere.

The ages of the men ranged from 21 to 41. After lunch a- rush set in.

Major Row, who is commanding the Canterbury Regimental District, estimated that 75 per cent of the applicants were returned soldiers, and that !)() per cent were in employment.’’ “They are coming in thick and fact: they are coming in every minute.’’ said one officer. “I don’t think we. will find any difficulty in raising an army.”

DUNEDIN. September 18. A number of inquiries were made locally to-day regarding enlistment in any force which might lie sent to Turkey. Keen th,. terrors of the I le war do not seem to have stifled a sj iiit of adventure in our young men, for many of those who inquired to-day were men who had seen hard service both in Gallipoli and France. At 5 p.m., Major Lampson reported that 100 men had left their names with flic Defence Authorities. “So far,” lie said, “no official instructions have been issued,” hut the authorities at the drill hull were prepared to accept names pending the receipt of orders. The Major has also had a number of inquiries from those anxious to enlist. AUCKLAND, September 18.

A steady stream of men poured into the Defence Office seeking information regarding the New Zealand contingent. but it was not until four o’clock that instructions were received to register. After that over one hundred registered, including some nurses and a chaplain. WANGANUI, September 1” Keen interest was taken in recruiting to-day, over two Mildred names being handed in. These included a large proportion of returned soldiers. MASTERTOX, September 18. Thirty men handed in their names to the local defence office to-day as being willing to volunteer for service abroad. They include five officers and three non-coms, of the N.Z.E.E. It is understood there have also been enquiries at branch offices in the district. GISBORNE, September 18. There was an instantaneous response in Gisborne to the Government’s call for men. Volunteers called at the Defence Office in the morning and many telephoned in from outside districts. This afternoon between fifty and sixty names had been banded in at the Defece Office. A proportion c the volunteers are returned soldiers and ninny arc of a good standard of physique. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 18. A steady stream of would-be recruits lias registered names at the Defence Office to-day and up to closing time, 73 oligible men had been enrolled.

I CANADA’S ACTION. f ■ QTTWAA Sept. 18. < The Government have sent an urgent invitation to the Ministers throughout the Dominion to attend an extraordinary session of the Cabinet Council on Monday to consider the British Government’s request for men for service in overseas contingent in the Near East. j , Ex-servicemen throughout the Dominion are informing the Government i . of their willingness to join a con tin- j ' gent and recruiting even lias begun in , Montreal, former officers calling upon > men who served under them and get-1 < ting their signatures for a pledge to , serve against the Turks. ’ r l lie Federal and Provincial Minis- j tern generally, however, refuse to comment on the situation. Air .1. E. C'arron (.Minister of Agri- . culture in the Quebec Provincial Go- j comment) stated Canada should think , more than before committing'her- . self to a nut her foreign war. “It is a j matter of grave peril, and will deserve f the deepest consideration before action is taken. Aly own opinion is that ( Canada should keep free from cii- ( tanglcments in foreign wars.” j

U.S.A. ALOOFNESS. NEW YORK. Sept. IS. •Many preachers in Sunday sermons commenting on llie Near East situation. condemned the action of the Turks, ami called upon the Allies la drive them out of Asia Alinor, and never to surrender Constantinople to them. Some well known ministers whir did missionary work in tl o Near East, condemned the United States action in standing aloof, and ikclare I the blame lor the situation rests primarily with the United States, which could have prevented the present conditions, by timely participation in a. settlement of Near East affairs. SERBIAN ATTITUDE, PARIS. Sept 17. Al. Pniiic.in* and the King of Serbia have had a I, n <thy conference on the Tiirco-Grcck situation. The Serbian Foreign .Minister subsequently stated that Serbia would regard . a Turkish crossing to the European side of the Straits as most dangerous. Serbia had not yi I taken military measures, lmi had informed Britain and France that sin was greatly ninnaed hy the prospect of a return ol I urkjsii rule to Thrace, which would seriously disturb tin l situation .in Angora. LONDON “TIMES” VI KAY. LONDON. Sept. 17.

The London “Times.” in an editor j.,| says:—France and Britain must act together, in a concerted policy. li they hesitate, they may lind themselves forced into a new war before many weeks. Diplomatic a'-tion may. and probably will suffice if the Keinalists. are only convinced of the solidarity of English and French policy and ol their determination to carry it out in all eirciimsta.n/es. '1 his . ■condition fulfilled then- '.'ill he little danger of armed opposition, and no real daugei of war."

The “Daily Mail” opposes military a< t-iun, stating that the ireedom of the Straits, which it affirms, is the only paramount iuterist of the Allies, can lie sallied by in-gutintion. fighting no remedy, for POLITICIAN’S BUNGLE. LONDON. Sept 17. The “Dailv Herald” declares: “We were, through our Highly Prim. Minister .the instigators of tins war that was made bv the Greeks. It the consequence is humiliating. we "mst hear it Not a man—not a slip) ought to he the British determination. We have been led astray.. nut we cannot get right hy lighting. LITTLE ENTEN TE THKATY. BERLIN. Sept- 17. The papers here publish the text of a. military convention, allegedly signed at Marienhiirg. on August .11 representatives of the Little Entente, undertaking to defend the status, quo i„ the Middle East of Europe, and declaring they will regard a threat Li ...ny signatory as a threat to all. KEM A LISTS STATEMENT. threat of war with allies. tßeceived this day at 9.50 a.in.) CONSTANTINOPLE. Sept. I' The newspaper "Alison” in an ms o'rod article says the Keinalists wn not at the moment infringe the neutral j-nnc hut the Allies must give the n the pence asked for, otherwise war witii the Allies is certain. DIVERGENT FRENCH VIEM S. (Received this day at 11.30 n.m.) PARIS. September 18. Tiie “Petit Pnrisien” says the Bntish note smells a little of pi.rult.. It is our turn to-day to beg our Hi it.so friends to do nothing rashly in the Near East. In 101-1. the fear of Russia l.'d Turkey into Germany's hands. Turkey must not he led to-day hy the fear of a British seizine of Constantinople to throw herself into Russian arms. Such a step would he eerlain to lead to a new European war. The “Petit Parisian” advises moderation on Turkey’s part, saying she may count on an honourable peace.

Tlic “Echo de Paris” s ays it lias never heard language more threatening or seen a greatr display of force. It even surpasses the tone employed by the exKaiser. “We cannot believe, upon reflection, that Britain desires war. It is a question of prestige. Mnstaphn’s humiliaLioll is the eml pursued by the British Cabinet. Either Ketnal will how and consequently be discreditid before Islam or resist, ami Britain will count upon her fleet to inflict on him a still more grievous affront. Friends of Britain hope her eyes may he opened in time to renounce the enterprise she is confronting.” The “l.’Eelait” endorses the Note and says Britain could not allow Kemal’s insolent declarations to pass unanswered Our Government now has the opportunity to seal a grand .alliance from the Rhino to the Bosphorus, ft would consolidate our position and we Hiotill not allow the opportunity to escape. MELBOURNE, Sept. I'd The “Argus” in a leader, savs the British Government’s appeal is a recognition of the rights of the Dominions to he consulted in matters of such moment to the Empire. The paper anticipates the Federal Parliament will doubtless endorse Mr Hughes action.

The “Age” declares it was possible for the Commonwealth Government to make only a favourable answer to the Imperial Government’s appeal, and that answer has been made. It is to he hoped it will prove as influential as expected.

i SMYRNA’S DESTRUCTION. WHOLE CITY MTPEI) OUT. ATHENS, Sent. Hi. People coining from Smyrna to other parts of the East say the damage done there bv the Turks totals from Cl id!0l 1.(100 to (117,000,000 and there has Ineii since AVedncsday last a Turk reign of terror in the city. One building containing 800 women, children and old men was burned; while an American from Smyrna says lie saw same hundred Armenians forced by the Turks to embark on a lighter, whereon thev were then shot down from the

1 shore, their bodies being left in the water. Little attention was paid to the lire, on M'ediiesdav. The English war correspondent, Air AA’ard Price, savs he was motoring, with Kiazim at the time. AA'hen the smoke was first noticed, Kiazim said: “AA'e will Minn stop it by blowing up houses,” and added: “The Armenians started it. There is a hand of them barricaded in a church in the heart of tintown. Knowing that they cannot escape, they started tires at nine different places.” I. Air Price says that at first the I Greeks accused the Armenians of I starting the fires. On Thursday night < there were scenes of frantic terror among the Greek and Armenian refugees. Altogether there were three hundred thousand refugees in the city. The terror was increased by the refugees’ knowledge of the incompetence ol the Turkish authorities to deal with ' such a catastrophe, and by the dread which they felt of the Turkish conquerors. The scene was terribly impressive. For miles down the gulf, the sea glowed in a coppery red. revealing densely packed mobs of people huddled between the advancing licrv death liehind, and the deep water in front of : them. Add ’d to their screaming was the frequent roar and crash of amtnuI nitioii explosions, and the rattle ol i rifle cartridges. I The Turks on Friday continued the terror, despoiling the rest of the populace. including Europeans. Fourteen Americans are reported missing. Tiiere is no official confirmation of the loss of British lives. The students at the American Girls’ College are alleged to have been carried off hy the Turks. An American destroyer, containing the American Consul and several Americans and numerous Armenian refugees from Smyrna, has arrived at Piraeus. They state that Al.r Wilkinson (head of the British Post Office) and two other British were killed also. The Turks invaded the British Consulate and murdered several Englishmen besides Air Wilkinson. The English victims at Smyrna include a doctor, b’wife, and two employees of the British Consulate, whom the Turks placed ill a standing position after their death and put a Union .lack in their hands. Even large buildings in Smyrna that were guarded by French .Marines have been pillaged. Many of I lie Greeks have thrown themselves into the sea, ill order to escape the Turkish fury.

Several of these wro rescued by t.ic Allied warships. The British Admiral landed some .Marines at Smyrna, hut later withdrew them, in order to avoid provoking the Turks. Several villages near hy were also set afire. and many nt the inhabitants were massacred. Many English families have left the. city. The sworn testimony ’of American residents al Smyrna shows that the Turkish regular soldiers systematically applied torches, apparently as a reprisal for devastation tarried out by the Greeks during their re 1 real. They also state that the Turks intended the lire should conceal the massacres which have marked their entry into the city. American witnesses estimate til'llt at least 1000 had been massacred previous to and during the lire, while in addition a large number ol people perished in the flames. Except for the soual d Turk's'i quarters, Smyrna lias ceased to exist. I'■

hanks and commercial, and r ■ si'L*n»• 1 bouses along the quays in the foreign quarter have been all reduced m as I '"*. The lire swept an area of two squar.’ miles.

Trustworthy eye-wit nesses, who have returned from Smyrna, declare lent the Turkish regulars preserved their d’scipline for two days, atl l -1 1 1 they were turned loose on the Gre k ami Armenian business quarters, wliicn thev looted thoroughly. The Foreign Office states that according to the latest telegram from .Smyrna, there is nothing to cui.f ' that anv British fam'lies are now there. All the Consulates, except !' ■ Belgian, Norwegian an.l Spanish the;° have been destroyed. A BRITISH RESUME. POSITION FOR AND AGAINST. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON'. September IS. Cabinets’ wholly unexpected manifesto, especially t''<> appeal to the Dominions to protect Gallipoli s hallowed soil, fairly took the British public’s breath jiwa.v. The appeal to the Dominions to (-oiiie t i the assistance of Britain, for that is lu>" the public mind interprets it, has lent a serious aspect to Sat onlay's statement. The Australian res|on so lias been starred in some paler*. but ethers question whether the

appeal, with all its inferences should have been made while--the position is still fully capable of solution by accommodation. Extreme Conservative journals, whose watchwords ar<‘ "Lloyd George must go,” rse the Near East, muddle as a stick with which to heat him whom they tih’me for the prnGrevk policy, but imi-t newspapers are trying to discover a way of preventing Eastern Europe Idusting up again.

tt i-i rlaiincil on bi-bait of the Erinie .Minister that he launched the li in' - shell with the very intention of rousing the world into a realisation ol' the true position. Liberal organs are faced with a dilemma. They don’t want war. hilt they have no love for the Tilths. They urge summoning a conference of all interested States to solve the Near Hast problem as a whole, declaring the only way to prevent an extension of ti.e coiillict is prompt action on those lines. Purely Government organs warmly hack Cabinet’s policy, emphasising the impression created hv the world-wide manifestations of the Empire’s solid front against the extravagant Turkish claims. Anyhow. it is certain the Cabinet’s manifesto jolted the country into an abrupt realisation of the dangers arising from the Turkish demands Sonia people think lion Lloyd George Inis one eye oil America, which, whatever her aversion to European entanglements Inis a soft spot in its heart for Turkov’s Christian subjects. They see in American opinion the potential means of over rwoing the Turks compelling a modification of their demands without actual recourse to force. There is a national aversion here from the thought of a new war on a capital scale, but there is no serious suggestion that the country would, in the last resort, fail to fully fi/lidly to the Flag.

! WARD PRICE. GIVES REPORT OF ACTION. SAIYRXA’S GREAT LOSS. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Sept IS. Air AVai-d Price cabling from Chnnak says hire, on tho edge of the plain, a little British force with a small Allied detachment is preparing to give an account of itself, if the Kemalist army infringes the neutral southern shore of tho Dardanelles. Tt is hardly believable that Kemal will allow them to commit that folly. The British position is one of considerable natural strength .and can he supported by naval help from the Straits. To-day Hussars arc moving out to the trolltier of the neutral zone, whence the nearest. Turks are fifty miles distant. It is reported the Turks have closed tho frontier against us. Smyrna is blazing as violently as ever. The Turkish army took no serious part ill tho massacres etc, which was almost entirely the work of the lowest classes Consulates. Cathedrals. hotels, dubs and principal shops have been burned down. It is estimated that stocks worth four million sterling were burned during the first- twenty-tour hours. The trading centre of Smyrna ibas been ruined for decades, anil many British fortunes were lost.

.MARRIED .MEN NOT ACCEPTABLI WELLINGTON, Sept 18.

It L considered that when definite enlistments are being taken lor the Expeditonary Force (the names of men wishing to enlist are only being taken now) no married men below the rank of Sergt. will he accepted.

The reasons for this are stated to he two fold:—tl) That the taking of married men is inadivisahle from the points of view of their families, and in economic interests; (2) That the acceptance of married men is far too expensivee lor the State considering llii- number of their dependents. Though the conditions of service 1 1 ave yet to he settled, it is probable that the rati:-, of pay to lie ollered will he the same as those that prevailed at the conclusion of the late war. LABOUR AI.P.s VIEWS. WELLINGTON. Sept 18. Air P. Eraser. ALP. when appmuclio.l by a Press reporter last night, stated’Air 11. E. Holland .Chairman of the Labour Party was away at Taibape, and in his absence, the Labour Party had not yet discussed the matter. ()u being informed that Alessrs ,1. Ah Combs (Lyttelton) and D. G. Sullivan (Avon) bad stated that Cabinet should not have arrived at any decision .nor made any oiler to the Old Country till Parliament had been consulted. Air Eraser replied: “1 have no comment to make on that at all. I have nothing lo say myself, until the | ;i hour Party lias discussed the matter.” ' j DOAHNION’S OFFER. LONDON, -Sept 18. Newspancrs give- prominence to New Zealand’s ntfer to assist in the defence of Gallipoli: also to Air Wm. Hughes' coble to Air l.layil George. HAMILTON. Sept 18. The Mar Penn lias attacked the maiiliiiuil of Hamilton. L-t l ’- 1 W o’clock this morning, ncarl ' one hundred voliniters for service had oll’i red at tin U<-.tl Defence Office. WANGANUI. Sept 18. Over one hundred young men handed in their names at the Delenco Office lur this morning for active *erVNXIOUft TO ENROL WII AKATANK, Sept. 10 The Defence office lias been besieged by applicants, mostly returned s Idlers, anxious to enlist for service. This morning tho office received m- , v. ructions to enrol and a good respor.se l-Kli.lHNe, Scl.t. ie I Many offers are being .received enlist for service, if required, returned and young men being eager lor enlistment.