THE NEAR EAST CRISIS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2487, 30 September 1922, Page 3

THE NEAR EAST CRISIS

HO CONFERENCE YET. Wellington, Last Night. The Premier supplemented and corrected his former statement to the House on the Near East situation with an announcement tonight of some gravity. He had some doubt, he said, about the report that Kemal had agreed to a conference. Therefore, he had cabled to London and had received the following reply: “There is no truth in the report that Rental has agreed to a conference.” REPRESENTATION FOR DOMINION. Wellington, Last Night. The Premier was questioned by the Leader of the Opposition today regarding the possibility of New Zealand being represented at the Near East Conference. He said that no arrangement had been made, but, as Sir F. Dillon Bell, a' Minister of the Crown, was in London, and the High Commissioner, Sir James Allen, was an ex-Minis-ter, and also available, lie thought New Zealand should be represented if any conference was held. There was ample time to make arrangements. Mr Wilfonl: “I think we should leave it to Britain.” Mr Massey: ic l am quite satisfied to leave it to Britain, but in the circumstances, as we have two gentlemen well qualified to represent New Zealand, the proper thing to do would be to give representation to this country if it is possible to arrange it.” The Premier added some news regarding the general situation. One item in a cable he had received was that Rental had not consented lo abide by the decision of the proposed conference, “which,” concluded Mr Massey, “makes the position exceedingly serious.”