THE NEAR EAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1922, Page 3

THE NEAR EAST.

.XSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE CURSE OF AVAR. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 1. Gener»l lan Hamilton at a war memorial unveiling ceremony at Cambuslang, said peace was tho last thing the makers of the treaties of Versailles and Sevres thought about. They aimed at punishment. When you seek for a cash payments for the blood of tiiose you lost, the money turns into scraps of dirtv paper, stamped with mocking promises. Had we truly aimed at ‘"m, peace, we might have inflicted a mortal wound on war. We must see tlie present crisis through ns one man and then remove troops from the Rhine. The British Fleet is well able to take charge of our interests in Germany. Next we must make a real League of Nations, and ask the League as its first task to flood the power magazine by a revision of the Treaty of Versailles.

SENSE FROM FRENCH I’A.PKR. (Received this day at 0.30 a.m.) PARI, October 1. The “Journal des Debats’’ states if the Turks think they can talk as '"asters of Europe they deceive themselves. If they are allowed to send troops in'o Thrace, massacres and burnings are inevitable. It is folly to wait till the Angora Government puts itself into accord with Moscow before taking indispensable measures.

the military strength. (Received this dnv at 9.30 a. n.) LONDON, October 1. j The military critic, Commandant Avreaux estimates the Turks number tuo hundred thousand- with reinforcements of sixty thousand. Ho considers the Bosphoious is Kemal’s main objective, Chnnak being only a demonstration. HOISTING THE LION’S TAIL. GRAVE SITUATION, united service telegrams (Received this dav at S a.m.) LONDON, Oct 1. If the declarations in the Observer and. Sunday Times, especially the hit- I ter which is In close touch with the Prime Minister .arc taken at their face value, the Near East tension has ' about reached breaking point, hor, example, -the Sunday Times’ tli pjoina- , tic article says: “Kemal’s reply is arrogant, defiant and prove'eative. and justifies the British Government’s decision to bring the controversy to a head. Our rulers desire to he tolerant, patient, forbearing, but a time comes when the British Lion must object to its tail being twisted. Similarly the Observer states:—The limit of patience on the British side has been reached. The concentration of the Turkish forces has- passed the limits of safety. The dm,be before Kemal is a withdrawal or war. Shell statements are obviously inspired. It is asserted they are not mere warnings to Kemal. that Britain must not longer he trifled with, hut jreprescuits Cabinet's views <of the gravity of the situation. French opinion declines to believe the position is so desperate. General Koch’s name is again invoked in support of the contention that the Asiatic shore is only tenable against the Turks by a tremendous force. Much announcements lend further gravity to the position. It would seem tile Greek position lias' made matters worse. According to the. Observer, the stumbling block is .Greece, which now hopes to save Thrace. M. Veiiizelos confirms the report lie has been entrusted with the conduct interests •abroad.,, ft is ported Veuatejo* .Visits Rome " after London. Statements from Athens declare the Greeks assrit they are endangered by the Turk. rising in Thrace. On the other hand, tho Turkish representative at l’aris, Ferid Be.v, accuses the Greeks of preparing to attack Thrace behind the Allied barrier. That Thrace is the danger point is evident, because the Allied Commissioners at Constantinople sent a mission to Thrace to study the situation in an endeavour to exert a calming influence on liotli sides. <

.Meanwhile, tlit actual reports from C'li it uni; tire disquietening. Mr Ward Price telegraphs that British seaplanes detected movemonts ol Turk infantry towards Chanak. 'I fieri' js ito sign of guns, but they may be movwig up under cover of darkness. Tlte Trks nrci outwardly friendly, but may be masking a hostile intention.

A GRAVE POSITION. (Received this dav at 8 a.in.) LONDON, Oct 1

After sitting yesterday afternoon, awaiting a despatch from General Harington. which had not arrived. Cabinet sat two hours until half past midnight, and resumed at ten in the morning. No statement was made.

The position is regarded as extremoly grave, as the Turks show no disposition to withdraw from the neutral zone near Chanak.

France is anxious to avert a clash he tween the British and the Turks. It is believed Bouillon’s despatch will help to relieve the tension, though official opinion ill France is optimistic, the French press semi-oilicinlly upI,raids the British Government for not withdrawing troops from Chanak. THE QUID PRO QUO. PARIS, Oct. I.

France is afraid if war breaks out, Britain will withdraw troops from Cologne on the ground she cannot aid Era nee to enforce peace on Germany, as France in withdrawing troops froilt Chanak refused to aid in enforcing peace on Turkey. ANOTHER CONFERENCE. LONDON. Oct I.

The Daily (Exprews Constantinople correspondent states the I urkisli authorities report Geutval Harington is proceeding to Mudauin to confer with Kemal Pasha.

FRANCE STIRRING I P TURKEV. PARIS, Sept HI;. M. Poincare telegraphed to Boiullo ninsisting on Kemal l’asba implying (without delay to the Allied Note cabled on the twenty-third. Bouillon mot Kemal. at Smyrna and had a long conversation. He is proceeding to Angora with Kemal. TURKISH DIPLOMACY. ueuter’s TELEGRAMS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) CONTANTINOPLE, Sept 30. Replying to General Harington’s second Note requesting a withdrawal from the neutral bone, Kemal 1 aslm states if the British are prepared to withdraw from the Asiatic coast as France and the Italians have done, ho will order his forces to withdraw sii<'htly, and only act in a police capacity! He announces his departure for Angora to meet the National Asbut he will meet General Har[)ie earliest possible oernsv

THE MILITARY SITUATION. PARIS, Oct 1. The Petit. Parisien states the French military experts, including General Eoch, regard the Chanak position as incapably being hold. They favour the natural protection which the Cliatakljn, line offers. The paper is of opinion the only remedy will he for both -the British and Turks to evacuate the ueutarl zone. NO OVERSEA ENLISTMENTS REQUIRED AT PRESENT. (Received this dnv at 8.30 a.til.) LONDON, Oct. 1. The British War Office has received large numbers of olfers for service over, seas from ex-officers and reserve officers. It is announced the above are not needed at present. They will he called on later, if required. THE STRAINED RELATIONS. I Received this dav at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON. Oct I. Mr Ward Prieo from Chanak supplies an ill (id in it illustrating the strained position of affairs in one of the most remarkable situations in military history. The .third Hussars actually engaged the Turkish cavalry in a thrilling race for the possession of an important ridgd at Keplu-z, the British winning liv seventy yards. The officers parleyed. 3he 9 urks demanded the ridge, but the British leluscd to witlijiaw. All night long (lie unities 'were visa vis. and most vigilant. At dawn the Turks retired to the val- ];, v where (lie Kemalist policy ot peaceful penetration brought them up against the British wire.

IT.-M V A\H ERA N™ 1 ' ’ X CONCERT C’ONTA STINOPLE. Oct I. A telegram has been received advising that France and Italy have agreed to accept Kemal’s oiler for a preliminary eotilcivnce at Musania on Tuesday. They will he represented by their respective High Commissioners in Constantinople.