THE NEAR EAST

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1923, Page 2

THE NEAR EAST

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAIILE ASSOCIATION,

THE LAUSANNE TREATY.

LONDON, August 14. Lord Birkenhead, writing to tho newspapers, states: After a close study of the Lausanne Treaty, I use moderate language when I say 1 am appalled by it. There has been no such complete surrender of British interests since Majuba Hill. Never in tho histroy of this country bus the defeated enemy wrested such terms from the conqueror. Everything for which wc fought is surrendered. The late Coalition Government, whicii stood and would have stood at Chanak lor all our victory meant, was disparaged as a government- of war makers. It is certainly true, we should have run the risk of a local war, which would have lasted one day only, such was our accumulated resources on tho spot. Rather that, than to have surrendered the whole fruits of the glorious victory. To-day, all is gone. British merchants and British insurance companies are flying from Constantinople. The capitulations have been abandoned, and the lreedont of tho Bt:aits depends on the p.lighted word of the Turk.

Lord Birkenhead adds that- if Parliament had been sitting, he would have addressed his observations to the Lords.

TURKEY FOR THE TURKS. , CONSTANTINOPLE, Aug. 14 Mahmoud Essad (.Minister of Economies) announces that all Christian employees of concession-holding companies except mechanical experts, must bo replaced by Turks within six months. TURKISH POLITICS. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 11. Kent ill Pasha, in his inaugural Presidential speech in the Angora Parliament, said:—“The opening of the Assembly coincides with the openng of a new era. Our four years’ struggle for independence has ended in a peace worthy of tile dignity of our nation. When it is ratified, wc shall enter a phase of free, independent development. and prosperity.” Referring to the difficulties of the negotiations, Kenial Pasha said that the evil inheritance of four centuries had to be liqiulated. The treaty had effaced the dream of a greater Armenia, and had broken up all hopes of spheres of influence in Southern Turkey. ft had also recovered Smyrna and Adana, and had saved Constantinople. It had broken the chains of tho capitulations, and had brought, tire recognition of Turkey’s rights to equality with other civilised countries. “Tlio treaty opens the way to prosperity.” said Kenial Paslui. in conclusion. “We must guard our independence and our national security unitedly against internal and external enemies.”

Kenial Pasha adds:—-“It would bo childish to suppose that the peace won will last for ever. As long as our rights are respected, we shall reciprocate, hut we have learned, by unhappy experience, that the rights of the weak a:o frequently not respected. Consequently, we must not omit the neeesfjarv preparations for any eventualities.

GREEKS IN TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 14

In response to strong lepicsentatioils to Athens, by the League of Nations, and the Near East Relief Organisation, the Greek Government has decided to Clear the whole 15,000 Greek refugees from Constantinople within a fortnight. The problem remains of how to deal with 104X10 refugees on the Black Sea Coast, who aro in a. worse plight.