THE NEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 May 1922, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST.

GENERAL TOWNSHEND. REFUSED A PASSPORT. THE ITALIAN AGREEMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, May 3. In the House of Commons Mr. Chamberlain, replying to General Townshend, said the Foreign Secretary has decided to refuse a passport to General Townshend to proceed to Turkey on the ground that such a journey at the present time would be the reverse of opportune, since it could not fail to he misconstrued by the Allies and Turkey as an official mission. Consequently it would prejudice the present negotiations and further delay peace with Turkey. General Townshend complained that the explanation regarding the passport was offensive and asked if that was a proper way to treat him. Captain Gee, V.C., later moved the adjournment in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply. The Speaker refused the motion on the ground that the matter was not now urgent. Replying to a question, Mr. Chamberlain said the Italian Government informed the British Government on April 24 that they had concluded an agreement with the Constantinople Government whereby the latter undertook to examine favorably Italian applications for • certain concessions in railway matters and public works in Asia Minor. They gave assurances that the agreement contained no counter concessions on their part. The British were informed at the time of the Paris Conference that Turkey had made certain proposals toltalv and advised the latter to proceed with extreme caution, but Britain was unaware of the agreement having been concluded. Representations nail been addressed to the Italian Government.