THE NEAR EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1923, Page 2

THE NEAR EAST

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SITUATION CRITICAL. LONDON, May 26. Tho Lausanne Conference will flecido on Saturday whether or not war will break out. afresh in the East. Tho Greek ultimatum appeared to make hostilities inevitable. The Turks maintain that they have not yet received a reply from the Angora Government to the Greek offer of tho town of Karagatell, in Thraee, in lieu of an indemnity, but this is probably an attempt by Ismet Pasha to gain a respite by which ho hopes to convince the Angora Government that they must modify their attitude in time to prevent a rupture. It is believed that the Turkish reply really was received last night, but that it was a flat denial. Ismet Pasha will ho asked whether his Government is willing to discuss tho Greek offer. In the event of a. gative reply, M. Vcnizelos will firmly quit the Conference. The real danger consists of two factors; first, in Greece’s internal political situation, and secondly, the military situation, which gives Greece nil obvious temptation to strike the first blow quickly. The total Turkish Army strength is 390,090 men. Greece’s strength is 180,000 men ; but the Greek Army is concentrated at the Mnrtiza River, and is ready for action. The English newspapers are featuring the crisis. Tho “Daily Express” Lausanne correspondent says: The British danger consists in having some part of our Army of Occupation in the East caught between the rival armies and becoming involved in the struggle. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Lausanne correspondent states: It is only b> a continuance of their councils, which from the beginning have lieen conducted with mutual loyalty, that tho Allies can assert authority with convenience and rapidity. An immediate collapse of the Lausanne Conference would he nothin" short of an international disaster. Onlv by retaining representatives in the Balkans can an effective limitation of the struggle be maintained. „ %r

ATHENS, May 25. The Premier of Greece, in a statement, says that M. Pelle (French representative) had pointed out to M. Vcnizelos the impossibility of disposing of the reparations question this week, since the Turks are without instructions from Angora. Greece is prepared to agree to an adjournment, pending the arrival of these instructions, in order to meet the wishes of the Allies, upon whose good-will ho places so much hope. PARIS, May 20. It is understood that the French Government has sent M. \ eilizelos an important communication, intended to convey to Greece a warning as to the consequences of a war decision, France making it plain that in the event of war, the Greek armies will he refused every facility of movement so far as it is in tiie fiower of the fireach to refuse. Probably this is meant, to convey that, the Greek Fleet will not lie allowed to carry out any operations in the Aegean Sea.