CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE NEAR EAST.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. CCRZON’S INSTRUCTIONS. LONDON, September 20. Well-informed quarters in London sav Lord Curzon went to Paris with clear-cut instructions. They will not, however, be surprised if, as the result of the Peace conference, the Turks are now readmitted to tho Asiatic shore of the Dardanelles on the following conditions: Firstly, the establishment of a broad demilitarised zone, identical with the existing Sanjak of Chanak; secondly, the placing of an Allied force on Gallipoli, with insistence that it must remain in occupation there, to safeguard free and unimpeded entry into the Straits. There is high authority for stating that the French Government and certain representatives of Turkey now in Paris are agreed on these provisions, and that Kemal Pasha is favourably disposed.

TURK CONDITIONS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 20

Kemal Pasha is willing to participate in a Peace Conference, if the Allies withdraw from Ismid peninsula.

Another message states that the Turks have warned the Allies that they will immediately cross the Dardanelles, unless East Thrace is returned to Turkey.

TURN FOR THE WORSE. LONDON, Sept 21. An unexpected and urgently summoned conference of British Ministers and of the Army, Navy, and Air chiefs is being held to-night. Mr Lloyd George and Mr Churchill are returning from the country for the purpose of nttonding. The object of the conference is believled to be the consideration of a dire: communication from Lord Curzon (British Foreign Minister) from Paris. FRENCH MILITARY CONFERENCE. PARIS, Sept 20. It is noteworthy that M. Poincare, (Premier of France) conferred with Marshal Foeli and General Weygand, before his afternoon conference with Lord Curzon. M. Poincare has declared that the Treaty of Sevres is certainly to be abrogated.

KEMAL SUMMONS CABINET. LONDON, Sept 20

The “Times’s” Constantinople correspondent says that Kemal has summoned the members of the Angora Ministry to Smyrna to discuss the situation.

Officers, jrt'ith their wives and families. have been ordered to be ready to embark.

ACTIVITIES ON THE STRAITS. LONDON, Sept 20.

The Constantinople correspondent oi “The Times” says:—The British residents here have received a hint to prepare to send off the womenfolk and children. Officers have been similarly instructed. These are precautionary measures, in the event of Kemal attacking the neutral zones, when it. is certain his agents would attempt to stir up rioting in Constantinople. The British forces here would, he handicapped if they were compelled to detach any troops for the protection of residents. The British headquarters at the Dardanelles has advised the civil popu lotion to leave Chanak, as that town is likely to he shelled if Kemal advances. . , Thu Chanak narrows is a scene ot the most intense activity from dawn to dark. The Turkish population is for the moment quiet, being under the control of the miltiary and civilians, but fires and massacres ara inevitable if Kemal advances.

TOWN REPORTED DESTROYED PARIS, Sept 20. Information received by tho French Ministry of Marine that the. whole ot Pnuderma. including the railway station and the Ottoman hanks, has been destroyed hv fire, with the exception of one hundred houses Later: A Reuter message states tin casualties among civilians are numerous in the Panderma file.

PRISONERS FROM SMYRNA. LONDON, Sept. 20. The “Morning Post’s” Constantinople corerspondent states: Ihe K - L,lists placarded Smyrna statnig a male Christian refugees between eighteen and forty-five were considered to be prisoners of war. In con. ouenee of this decision, refugees these ages are being collected and deported up. country.

LABOUR’S OPPOSITIONLONDON, September 20. The General Council of the Trade Union Congress of Britain is entirely opposed to any military adventure m the Near East, and it has decided to seek an interview with Mr Lloyd George, before taking any definite action.

ITALY’S ATTITUDE. • ROME, September 20. The Italian newspapers generally iigre'J that Italy must not fire a shot against the Turks. The “Mcssagero” announces that the Italian soldiers have been recalled to Italv. . , The “Epocn” declares that England reallv wants to conclude an agreement with' France, in order to strengthen the Little Entente, and wants to savo the Greeks’ power in the Mediterranean Sea, nnd also to end the pan-Ishmic " Italy, says the paper, cannot accept the English policy, which is contrary to flic Italian interests both in the Mediterranean and in the Adriatic, as it aims to strengthen the Polos-Slavs-Roumanian confederation, while remoiing Yenizelos rule from Greece. Euither, Italy cannot agree with the French policy to allow the lurks to ieoecupy Thrace, at Bulgaria’s expense, while Italy might at the same time be expected to compensate Greece by a restoration of the Dodecanese Islands, and also to renounce the independence

of Albania. “A Balknnic war.” declares tho “Epoca” would he preferable to the loss of our interests.”

CANADIAN ATTITUDE. OTTAWA, September 20. The Ministers are convinced, that the Near East news is reassuring. The Cabinet lias therefore adjourned till Friday.

Offers to enlist continue in great numbers. A contingent is fissured if jt should be required.

TOWNSEND’S VIEWS. LONDON, September 20. General Townsend, who recently interviewed Kcmfll l’ashfl, at Angola, agrees with Mr Hughes that thb assistance of the Dominions should hot, go beyond the maintenance of the freedom of the Dardanelles. Since, he says Kemal agrees with the freedom of the Straits, there should be no necessity for a single Anzac: . General Townsend added that a continuation of the Allied occupation of Constantinople would provoke a holy war in the Near East. ORIENTAL ALLIANCE. “THE TIMES” SERVICE. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 20. . A Moscow message states Raskolni- "r--kolf, the Soviet representative at Kabul was instructed to sound Afghanis- , tan regarding an Oriental alliance, to '’P' include Russia, Turkey, Caucasian Republic, Bokhara, Mongolia and Persia. It is reported Rnskolnikiff has already formally offered Afghanistan an alliance. A similar offer is expected from Kemal.

TURKEY AND RUSSIA. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 21 Karahkan, Soviet assistant eommissicnary of Foreign Affairs, has received a reply from Angora Foreign Minister thanking Russia for its congratulations and expressing the hope that after a victorious peace the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between Turkey and Russia will grow still stronger.

TURKS VIEWS. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) PARIS, Sept. 20. Fetid Bey interviewed by the newspaper “Intransigeant,” said the Turks considered there would he two distinct conferences, one consisting of the Great Powers to remake the Treaty ot Sevres, and the other to fix the status of the Strait at which Russia, Roumania, Bulgaria,' Georgia and Azerbaijan will he logically represented as directly interested. CAPTURES OF GREEKS. PARIS, Sept. 21. A report from Angora, states the Turks altogether captured sixty thousand Greeks.

I LABOR AND PREMIER, (Received this day at 8 a.m.) i LONDON, September 21. , The Independent Labour Party demonstrating against the war adopted a resolution that Hon. Lloyd George was a menace to the world’s peace and demanding an immediate general election. Mr Henderson declared Hon. Lloyd George, who recently issued a clarion call to the Non-eonfor- | mists, on behalf of peace, had now issued an inflammatory appeal to the Dominions, before diplomacy had a chance to begin its work. He asked.: i “Is the freedom of the Straits which”'"' I will always be open under disarmament worth the bones of a single Cockney,” ' and was answered by loud cries of “No, 1 ami we are not going to' fight.” I Hon. Llovd George in an intimation | consenting to receive a Labour deputation for the purpose of discussing the j Near East situation declared if labour was merely anxious for peace, they were knocking at an already open door, because Cabinet was doing all possible * to make war impossible. ’ [ THE CHANAK ZONE. ('Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, September 20. Downing Street announced it was untrue that Greeks had . been inoccupation of Chanak zone, which the tish occupied inimediately after the ar— _ ' 1 mistice and had held ever since. The neutrality of the zone had been consistently maintained against Greeks. When the Greeks in May last entered the neutral line in pursuit of Turkish brigands the troops forced the Greeks to withdraw. Tho British Government had no intention of withdrawing from Chanak. The report that Kemalists ■\ invaded the zone was still unconfirmed and generally doubted. A CRITIC. Viscount Grey,., in a letter to the newspapers, urges that the immediate question in the Near East is the avoidance of war. , The situation can only be saved by a real concert by and France, in which Italy would prohably join. It was a terrible mistake of Government to announce on Saturday the whole scheme of action, without previously consulting France. France’s replv was to withdraw from Chanak. If the British Government contemplates separate action in the Near East we, shall be heading for disaster. There must be 'no repetition of separate action in Egypt in 1882, which poisoned intentional relations for twenty-two years.