TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1920, Page 5

TURKEY.

THE PROBLEM REVIEWED. ' •PLAN FOR AN ARMENIAN STATE, j By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received March 14, 5.5 p.m. London, March 11. In the House of Lords, Lord Curzon declared the disarmament of the Turks in Cilicia during the British occupation was entirely beyond our power. He detailed the steps taken in connection with the massacres, and pointed out there were from 730,000 inhabitants in Cilicia, of whom 546,000 were Moslems. It- was, therefore, difficult to say that this portion of the Turkish Empire should bo cut out. He hoped France would undertake the future security of minorities in that region, notwithstanding her desire to limit her responsibilities there. In regard to Armenia, it was not thought the northern Armenians were endangered, but he was bound to admit they were not such innocent lambs as some supposed. Indeed, they had made a series of the most savage and bloodthirsty attacks conceivable after giving clear provocation. The Peace Conference was to create an Armenian State containing a distinct predominance of Armenians with a defensive frontier and aeces3 to the sea. The Armenians ought to be able to protect themselves if the Allies succeeded in arming them. It might be advisable to place Armenia under the League of Nations if no mandatory country appeared.

As regards the fate of Constantinople, which was one of the most complex and closely debated issues the Allies were called on to consider, he said Moslems the world over were anxious to keep the Sultan there, not merely because he was Khalif, but because it symbolised power and authority. It was hoped the draft Turkish Treaty would be ready by the 31st. March, but he \wirned people against imagining that that peace would spread peace over Europe.—lmperial Service.

THE SAFETY OF THE CHRISTIANS. 1 IMMEDIATE STEPS NECESSARY. London, March 11. In tlic House of Lords, Lord Bryce, dealing with the massacres in Cilieia, urged that the frontiers of the new Turkey should not approach the frontiers of Persia or Mesopotamia. He moved that immediate steps were needed to secure the safety of Christians in Cilicia and Armenia, and to end Turkish rule there. He declared that it was very unfortunate that the Government's intentions with regard to Constantinople had been communicated to the Viceroy of India before Parliament had been formed, and that the concession to Turkey had been made in such a way that it could be represented as a surrender to the agitation in India. This had greatly harmea British prestige in India, and the effect in Turkey would be disastrous. The Turks would attribute the concession to timidity. He urged the dispatch of troops and warships to Asia Minor.— Aus--N.Z. Cable Assn.