ALLIES MEET.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1921, Page 5

ALLIES MEET.

LONDON CONFERENCE. -vsr PEACE OF THE NEAR EAST. TURKS WANT TREATY REVISED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received Feb. 22, 10.15 p.m, London, Feb. 22. It is understood that at the preliminary conference of the Allies, France and Britain were in agreement to solve the question of Smyrna by making it semiautonomous under a Christian Government, with half the police Turkish and half Christian. It was also proposed to return to Turkey one-fourth of Thrace. The Allies’ decision to hear M. Kalogeropoulos (the Greek Premier) was unexpected, and left a favorable impression on the Greek mission regarding the Allies’ desire for absolute fairness. The conversation at the conference table was most friendly. M. Kalogeropoulos offered to clear Anatolia of Mustapha Kemal’s troops if the Allies removed the embargo against the Greek Government raising funds In foreign countries. He said the Greek people were ready to make any sacrifices to retain the Treaty of Sevres.

fThe Kemalist delegation arrived at Victoria Station to-night. Bekil Sami Bey, the rugged Kemalist leader, in a truculent interview with the Daily Telegraph. professed the deepest respect for Tewfik Bey, who was so kind as to send a representative to meet him on arrival. He had no doubt that both delegations would meet, pointing out that both were staying at the same hotel, though on different floors. Nevertheless, Tewfik’s delegation represented nobody and nothing; the Kemialists were the sole legal and legitimate representatives of Turkey, and would most certainly refuse to eo-operate with Tewfik, though, of course, they could not prevent the conference inviting Tewfik and his friends. Asked if he considered the Sevres Treaty a suitable basis for the reestablishment of Eastern peace, Sami Bey said that if it were so there would be no point in coming to London. Despite Sami Bey’s arrival it is semiofficially announced that the British Government did not invite the Kemalists.

The Morning Post states that the British attitude towards the Sevres Treaty is that Turkey cannot be trusted to govern the old Empire, and this policy was not affected by the establishment of a Kemalist Government, or the Greek elections. Further, it was so difficult to reach an agreement in settling the Sevres Treaty that it would be hazardous to attempt to revise it, and, finally, all treaties hang together; if the Sevres Treaty is thrown overboard it might be a precedent for treating the Versailles Treaty in the same way. The British delegates, therefore, will not submit concrete proposals, but will be ready to listen to arguments for revision and proposals to give effect thereto.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. London, Feb. 20.

The “Big Three” have met and have begun conversations respecting the Sevres Treaty. Their efforts to reconstruct the map of the Near East are likely to occupy the rest of the week. Wide divergences exist between the Allies over the ratification of the Treaty. The return of Constantine to Athens has naturally altered the position. The French find Greece under Constantine a very different Greece from that under Venizelos, and are now inclined to favor the return of Thrace to Turkey, nor would France be downhearted if the Greek claims in Asia Minor were whittled down. Meetings between the Turkish delegates and the Kemalists have been delayed owing to the nonarrival of the Germans who are expected in London on Sunday. Britain is not averse to the ratification of the Sevres Treaty with some rectification, but is strongly averse to handing back Christian populations to Turkish rule. Mr. Lloyd George presided at the preliminary meeting in Downing Street of the British, French, Italian and Japanese delegations. The formal meeting of the conference was held afterwards at St. James’ Palace, to which’ Greek representatives were invited.

The British Government has undertaken to supply four battalions of troops in connection with the taking of the Silesian plebiscite. \ GERMAN ATTITUDE INDEFINABLE. London, Feb. 20. The actual German attitude is difficult to define. Although Herr von Simons declared that an abortive London conference would not mean the immediate enforcement of the Allies’ terms the Times Berlin correspondent wires that the War Minister (H>rr Gressler), who is touring the country, warned Germans that Germany’s “No” would not finish the reparations problem. If no agreement was reached at the London conference the Allies would employ the strongest and most ruthless methods with further occupation on the east and west. Not for nothing had 200,000 Poles been thrown on the German Frontier.—Times. THE MEETING PLACE. London, Feb. 21. The Conference is being held in the picture gallery of the Palace, the same room where a century ago the state of Europe was settled after Napoleon’s banishment and Blucher was cheered by the crowd outside the palace. The contrast next week will be a poignant one for Herr Von Simons. Portraits o£ all the monarchs of England adorn the walls, also a picture depicting the King and Queen inaugurating the Australian Commonwealth. A communique issued at the conclusion of the afternoon’s conference said that after hearing M. Kalogeropoulos regarding the situation in Asia Minor, General Gouraud reported on the military situation in Galicia and Asia Minor.