LESS ACUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1922, Page 5

LESS ACUTE

v NEAR EAST CRISIS. BRITISH CABINET MEETS. NO NEWS FROM KEMAL. ZONE NOT INVADED. By Telexraph.—Press Amo.—Copyright. Received Sept. 21, 7.50 p.m. London, Sept. 21. An unexpected and urgently summoned conference of Ministers and the army, navy and air chiefs is being held to-night. Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Winston Churehill are returning from the country. The purpose is believed to be the consideration of a dire communication from Lord Curzon, who is in Paris.—Reuter Service. Received Sept. 22, 12.5 a.m. London, Sept. 21. At the end of his conference with M. Poincare Lord Curzon said: “We are making progress, but everything cannot be done in a day.” Semi-offieial announcements following the Ministerial conferences in London also indicate that the situation is easier, though Britain has not received any definite statement from Kemal regarding terms. Downing Street announced that it is untrue that the Greeks have been in occupation of the Chanak zone, which the British occupied immediately after the armistice, | and have held ever since. The neutrality of the zone has been consistently maintained against the Greeks. When the Greeks in May last entered the neutral line in pursuit of Turkish brig- i ands the troops forced the Greeks to withdraw. The British Government had no intention of withdrawing from Chanak. The report that the Kemalists have invaded the zone is still un- , confirmed and is generally doubted. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BRITISH LABOR VIEWS. OPPOSITION TO WAR. LLOYD GEORGE BLAMED Received Sept. 22. 12.5 a.m. London, Sept. 21. The Independent Labor Party, demonitrating aeainst war. adopted a resoluion that Mr. Lloyd George was a menace to the world’? peace and demanding in immediate general election. Mr. Arthur Henderson declared Mr. Lloyd George, who recently issued a larion call to non-conformists on behalf »f peace, had now issued an inflammaory appeal to the Dominions before iiplomacy had a chance to begin work. 3e asked: “Is the freedom of the Straits, which would always be open un(er disarmament, worth the bones of a angle London cockney?” He was anrwered by loud cries of “No,” and “We ire not going to fight.” Mr. Lloyd George, in intimating his onsent to receive a Labor deputation or the purpose of discuss'ng the Near East situation, declared that if Labor is oerely anxious for peace they were knocking at the already open door, because Cabinet was doing all possible to Hake war impossible. Received Sept 21. 5.5 p.m. London. Sept. 20. The General Council of the Trades Union congress, which is entirely opposed to any military adventure in the Near East, decided to seek an interview with Mr. Lloyd George before taking definite action. AMERICAN REFUGEES. RELIEF MEASURES TAKEN. Received Sept. 21, 10.30 p.m. Washington. Sept. 20. President Harding has asked Congress o appropriate two hundred thousand lollars for the relief of American efqgees in the Near East, the State department estimating ruat at least a .housand are in pressing iced of assistance. The Presidetit point'd out that the need could not be Hied by private funds of American reief organisations. Congressional leaders promised prompt action. USE OF THE LEAGUE. INFLUENCE IN SETTLEMENT. Received Sept. 21, 7-50 p.m. Geneva. Sept. 20. The Australian. New Zealand and Canadian delegate? hare telegraphed to Mr. Lloyd George urging the acceptance af Dr. Nansen’s proposal that the League of Nations should intervene to secure a Near East settlement. —United ServiceFRENCH IMPRESSIONS. SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM. Paris. Sept. 20. The British Note on the Near Eastern question has created a good impression and a spirit of optimism has siicceeded the almost tragic anguish which ran through the Press. In fact the papers interpret the British Note as indicating that the British Government ia desirous of returning the troops in Asia Minor to the European shore with a view to avoiding a possible conflict. _ The Petit Parisian, predicting a peaceful settlement, declares that the Turks will not attempt to attack Conatantinople or Gallipoli before opening peace pourparlers.