TURKS’ DEMAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1922, Page 5

TURKS’ DEMAND.

RIGHT TO CROSS STRAITS. UNOFFICIAL REPORT. ACT WOULD MEAN WAR. FLEET REINFORCED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Received Sept. 22, 8.5 p.m. London, Sept. 21. The Daily Express’ Constantinople corre spondent states the Turks have demanded the right to cross the Straits in pursuit of the Greeks. General Harrington (Allied High Commissioner) replied that an Anglo-Turkish war would be the inevitable consequence of such action, and he appealed to Kemal’s emissary not to take irremediable action pending a conference. The Daily Express’ Paris correspondent reports that after conferences between Lord Beatty and Admiral Grasset, the French Admiralty ordered several cruisers to proceed forthwith to reinforce the force at the Straits.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DEFENCE OF CHANAK. BIG FORCE REQUIRED. HUNDRED THOUSAND TROOPS. Received Sept. 22, 8.5 p.m. Paris, Sept. 21. Marshal Foch handed M. Poincare a statement that Chanak could not be held in the face of a real enemy attack without 100,000 soldiers and the fleet to back them up. M. Poincare handed Marshal Foch’s opinion to Lord Curzon, who forwarded it to Mr. Lloyd George.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MEETING OF THE ALLIES. BRITISH ALONE AT CHANAK. WHY OTHER POWERS WITHDREW. Received Sept. 22, 9.5 p.m. London, Sept. 21. A semi-official account of the proceedings at the Foreign Ministers’ conference in Paris yesterday says that Lord Curzon expressed great astonishment at the fact that while the British had decided to reinforce their troops at Chanak, France and Italy had resolved to withdraw their contingent from the south side of the Sea of Marmora. Lord Curzon considered this decision hardly conformed to the agreements of 1915 and 1918, which provided for partial inter-Allied occupation of Turkish territory. M. Poincare regarded these agreements as at present inapplicable, as no conflict was feared when the allocation of troops was provided for. He added that French opinion would not permit French troops to act with the Greeks, and he urged that if Chanak were held the whole southern shore of the Sea of Marmora ought to be equal! y occupied. M. Poincare further pointed out the military objection of the Allies fighting with their backs to the sea, and the undesirable effect upon the Islamic world if Britain adopted an uncompromising or bellicose attitude. Signor Sforza (Italy), agreeing with M. Poincare, said he believed the Kemalists would entertain peace discussions on an acceptable basis. It is pointed out that Russia is not invited, as she is not directly interested. The Soviet Angoran Treaty specifically excluded the Rusians from decisions affecting the sovereignty of Turkey and the security of Constantinople. The semi-official statement declares the problem cannot be referred to the League of Nations.'as urged by Dr. Nansen and the Dominion representatives, as it is a Governmental matter.—Reuter Service. DARDANELLES TO BE HELD. OFFICIAL ALLIED STATEMENT. Received Sept. 22. 5.5 p.m. Constantinople, Sept. 21. The Allied Commander-in-Chief has issued a proclamation declaring that the Dardanelles will be held, and that the responsibility for violation would fall on the authors. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. INFLUENCE OF THE LEAGUE. BRITISH URGE INTERVENTION. Received September 22, 5.5. p.m. London, Sept. 21. Sir Joseph Cook informed the Australian Press Association that the whole Empire delegation at Geneva, including Britain and India, were now loyally cooperating as one unit in jointly urging on Mr. Lloyd George a request for intervention by the League of Nations.— Times Service. “TURKEY’S VICTORY COMPLETE.” GENERAL VON SANDERS’ VIEWS. ENGLISH POLICY CHALLENGED. Received Sept. 23, 12.50 a.m. London, September 22. “Turkey's victory is complete and Constantinople will again be Turkish. Neither Europe nor England will venture a conflict with Kemal Pasha, who has behind him the entire Moslem world,” declared General Liman von Sanders to a Daily Telegraph correspondent. “I cannot see why England makes such a fuss about the Straits. Mr. Lloyd George said Gallipoli was sacred ground, because it contains more thsn 20,000 British graves. It also holds 60,000 graves of Turks, who fell in defence of their own country. I cannot understand why England resists the just claim of Turkey to Thrace. 'Purely Turkish territory I must be returned to Turkey, because it is impossible for Constantinople, the capital of the Moslem world, to be on the frontier ;of a defenceless State. The English must yield to Kemal on this point.”