CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE NEAR EAST. AUSTRALIAN AND N.2. CABLE ASSOCIATION. KEMAL ACCEPTS CONFERENCE. LONDON, September 27. Kemal has sent a message agreeing to a conference. BRITISH TROOPS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 27. General Harrington has received a reply from Kemal concurring in the Allies desire to avoid incidents, but evading the question cf a withdrawal, disclaiming knowledge of any neutral zone, and complaining that the British destroyed building and roads. British forces already in the Near East include over thirty thousand troops, six dreadnoughts, seven battle cruisers, twenty destroyers, several submarines and giant air carriers.

PRINCE A PRISONER. ATHENS, Sept. 27. Prince Paul is reported to he a prisoner aboard the training ship, Elli. Athens is calm. KEMAL WANTS PEACE. LONDON, Sept. 27. Mr Ward Price, telegraphing from Constantinople, states:—“Hamid Bey is announced to have received a message from Kemal Pasha stating clearly that he is prepared to agree to the proposed conference, but- he is consulting the Angora. Assembly before making his official reply. The Allies are now in telegraphic communication with Angora.

CONTROL OF STRAITS. A Soviet Note has been received by the British Foreign Office, asking that Russia, Georgia and the Ukraine shall participate in the Near East Conference.

The Note says: None of the Western Powers arc taking steps to prevent war. Tlie key to the Near East question is the effective restoration of , Turkish Sovereignty and of the Turkish lands, especially the Straits and Constantinople. i Russia alleges the Western Powers, ! of which Britain is the most obstinate, I refuse to restore to the Turks their territory and the Straits, ostensibly for the sake of the preservation of the Straits, but really because they wish to keep the Straits under their own control.

Russia will recognise no decision in regard to the Straits in which she has not pnrtieipnted, and which ignores her interests.

IN BOSPHORUS. BRITISH AND GREEK WARSHIPS. LONDON, September 27. The “Times” Constantinople correspondent states: Two Greek warships, the Averoff and Yellos, are in the Bosphorus. The Allied High Commissioners there are urging their withdrawal, as tlieir presence is calculated to have a provocative effect.

The Averoff is taking off a Greek Military Mission' from Constantinople.

The “Times” states the British First Destroyer Flotilla from the Atlantic Fleet has arrived at Constantinople. It is there to help to calm the nervousness in the city.

AMERICAN SQUADRON TOO. . WASHINGTON, September 27. The U.S.A. Navy Department has announced -that twelve United States destroyers have been ordered to proceed from Norfolk, Virginia to Constantinople. This is pursuant to a, request by Admiral Bristol. The Department has pointed out the flotilla would protect United States interests, and furnish supplies to refugees, but this did not indicate America’s military participation. •Tl'GO-SLAVS PREPARE. LONDON, September 27. The “Chicago Tribune’s” Athens correspondent states: Jugo-Slavia is concentrating troops on the MacedoniaBulgarinn frontier. The Greeks hope that Jugo-Slavia will throw its army, of 150,000 men, on the side of Greece, in a war for Thrace because a Turkish victory, and a Turkish occupation of Thrace would menace Belgrade.

ALARMING EXODUS. LONDON,v September 27. Mr Martin Donolioe, tho “Daily Clnonicle’s” Constantinople correspondent, reports the exodus there continues, being similar to that witnessed in the days preceding the Balkan Wa' in 1912. Trade is demoralised and Shipping offices besieged by would-be passengers. Even the Sultan may demand a passport to Switzerland or England, rather than he locked up : n Yildiz Kiosk by the Nationalists.

VENIZELOS A MENACE. LONDON, September 27. Mr Ward Price states: —“The Italian press has for weeks past been conducting- a ft antic anti-Venizelist campaign.

The French opinion is similar to Italy’s. There is however, a tendency in Serbia and in Roumania to welcome the return of Yenizelos to Greece. FUTURE OF SYRIA. LONDON, Sept. 27 The “Daily Express” Cairo correspondent reports France will he unable to hold the whole of Syria much longer. Already Northern Syria is largely under the sway of bandits. Even the main caravan route is closed. Business men from Beirout. who travelled through Aleppo district, state they were often fired on in that enormous mountainous tract, which the French arc unable efficiently to control. The tendency seems to he towards France retaining Great Lebanon, and handing over the rest of Syria to the Kemalists.

A HOLY LAND PROJECT. LONDON. Sept. 27 Tin? Palestine Administration lias in vited all countries represented in Palestine to participate in a great scheme to complete the excavation of the ancient city of David. GREECE IN TOILS. ATHENS, Sept. 27 There are still over one hundred thousand refugees in Asia Minor awaiting evacuation. It is hard to see how Greece will cope alone with i'hc sudden drain on her resource?,

DOMINIONS AND CONFERENCE. LONDON, September 27. It is understood that the British Go vernment lias not yet received any request from Australia and New Zealand seeking a- special representation at the Near East Conference. In view of their special interest in Gallipoli, it is stated that if such a request is made, it is certain to be granted. A similar privilege would then probably be offered. to India and all the Dominions. GREEK DICTATORSHIP. LONDON, September 27. The latest messages from- Athens, dated October 27th., state that the revolutionaries’ aim is to instal a military dictatorship in order to revive the nation's patriotism, and to resume the fight against the Turks. General Gonlas, who seems designed for the dictatorship, is reputed to no one of the most skilful officers in the army, but he is not a Venizelist. M. Venizelos is still in France, and alias taken no part in the events leading up to the revolution, which started with the navy men in Chios, where General Plntsiras assumed control of the rebels. Thence the movement spread to the army in Mitylene. General Konzis took the lead in Salonika, and after a series of patriotic speeches induced the whole garrison to support the’ manifesto issued by the troops in Mitylene.

At Salonika the rallying cry was tho retention of Thrace by the Greeks. The battleship Kilkis, with several destroyers and seaplanes, at Mitylene, declared for the revolution.

| At the same time the insurgents , aboard tlie battleship Lemnos sent an 1 ultimatum to the Government at Athens, demanding instant submission. However, the revolution in Athens had been precipitated by the dramatic appearance of two aeroplanes over the city from Chios. Crowds quickly gathered before the public buildings, wildly cheering tlie revolutionary orators.

The Cabinet Council was hastily called, ,at which King Constantine presided and expressed a desire to join the. Greek Army in Thrace. M. Maneos, Minister of National Economy, however, introduced a discordant note which eventually result ed in the King’s abdication, by sug gesting the recall of Venizelos to put forward the Greek cause at the Peace Conference.

This was supported by two influential Ministers. A friend of Venizelos " was called in, and the Cabinet requested him to undertake Hie mission to Venizelos, but he expressed the opinion that this was useless unless tno King was first deposed. A deadlock resulted, followed by the resignations of M. Maneas and M. Eutazias (Minister of Finance). As the latter left the Council Chamber, be advised tlie King to abdicate, and. added that Greece should never consent to the cession of Thrace.

REPORT ADOPTED. GENEVA, Sept. 27. . The Disarmament Report has been adopted. The Assembly finished on Saturday. GREEK REBELLION. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ATHENS,. Sep. 27. Ten thousand troops commanded by General Gonatas, arrived off 'the coast on Wednesday night and demanded immediate compliance with the proclamation. POPE’S MESSAGE. REUTER’S TELEGRAMS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) ROME, Sept. 27 The Pope telegraphed to Kemal hoping for a speedy conclusion of peace, and urging him to avert further bloodshed. TURKS CAVALRY. (Received this dav at 8 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 27 Turkish cavalry from Eretlkeny reinforced, are advancing north-east upon Asmalitepe apparently in order to eut off the British advanced post at Kappa. A British column with artillery left Chanak to counter the threat.

GENERAL HARRINGTON’S MESSAGE. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. 27 General Harrington, in a conciliatory reply to Kemal Paslia, thanks him for the declaration that he wilt respect the neutrality of the Straits and the desire to avoid incidents.. He points out that the destruction of buildings and roads was carried out as ti military necessity. Harrington assures Kemal that no shot will be fired except by Harrington’s orders. He expresses a readiness to meet Kemal anywhere convenient to discuss an understanding.