AT MUDANIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1922, Page 5

AT MUDANIA.

DELEGATES MEET AGAIN. ATTITUDE OF TURKS. SOFTENED TONE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 8, 5.5 p.m. Constantinople, Oct. 7. The conference at Mudania has resumed. The Allies refused to allow the Kemalist forces any passage through Thrace before the conclusion of peace. The situation remains strained. A British communique states the resumed sitting of the conference was short, owing to the late arrival of the Allied generals. Ismet Pasha’s attitude has softened since he received the Angora Government’s reply to the AlliedNote. The Turkish concentrations at Ism id are increasing. The situation at Chanak remains scationary, and the Turks are withdrawing from contact with our troops. Ismet expressed pleasure at the dispatch of three Allied commissions to Thrace as proof of anxiety to protect Turkish persons and property. Kemal is going on a tour of the reconquered territory, in the course of which he will meet General Harington at Mudania.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FEELING IN LONDON. VERY GRAVE VIEW TAKEN. Received Oct. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 7. A very grave view is taken in Downing Street of the Near Eastern crisis. Ministerial circles feel that a united front by Britain and France is essential against the Turks. The Daily Express states the British Government has decided not to oppose the Turks crossing the Bosphorus into Thrace. The British will hold Chanak and Gallipoli. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MR. BONAR LAW’S VIEWS. BRITISH ATTITUDE JUSTIFIED. Received October 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 7. Mr. Bonar Law has at last broken ni: silence regarding the Near East. In a letter to the Tinies he declines to ifportion the blame for the events .hading to the present situation in the Near East. He considers it is probably true that the British alleged pro-Greek sympathy alienated Mussulman feeling in India and elsewhere, but if we had withdrawn from Asia and allowed the Turks to cross into Europe it would have been regarded in India as the defeat of the British Empire. Nevertheless, the burden should not fall on the Empire alone. The task was not specially Britain’s interest, but humanity’s interest. The Empire should not show hostility or unfairness to the Turks, but Britain, for financial and social reasons, cannot act as the world’s policeman. We should tell France that the Near East is as much part of the general peace settlement as Germany, and if she is not prepared- to support us in the Near East we had better imitate the United States and restrict our attention to our own Imperial affairs.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE PEACE CONFERENCE. FRANCE OBJECTS TO RUSSIANS. Received October 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 7. It is semi-officially stated that France will not consent to the presence of Soviet delegates at the peace conference, or to the holding of the conference at Smyrna. The Journal des Debats says the Turks are acting as the conquerors of Europe and are promising nothing.

TURKS AND THRACE. OCCUPATION DEMANDED. London, Oct. 6. It is understood the Mudania Conference proceeded satisfactorily till yesterday, when the Turks sprang a surprise, demanding permission to immediately occupy Eastern Thrace before the Peace Conference to which the Angora Government had consented. This occupation was demanded without adequate safeguards for the protection of the minorities, and raised the political question with which the Allied generals did not feel empowered to deal. They therefore returned to Constantinople to consult their respective High Commissioners, and the British Commissioner regarded the situation as so serious that he decided to consult Cabinet. It is understood this new trouble di I not arise from any difficulty with Greece. It is believed M. Venizelos left London convinced that the Turuish occupation of Eastern Thrace after the Peace Conference in acceptance with the Allies’ Paris Note was inevitable. The present situation is entirely due to the Turks’ intransigeance in making demands which would result in their emerging from the war stronger both in Europe and Asia. Minor than before. Nevertheless the Turkish double-dealing was not altogether unexpected, consequently authoritative circles do not take an overgloomy view. i| It is understood the British Government may raise no serious objection to the inclusion of Russia, Georgia and the Ukraine in the Peace Conference, but the French attitude is debatable. POLICY CRITICISED. REVERSAL URGED. London, Oct. 6. Lord Islington and several other influential members of the Near and Middle East Association, in a statement, declare that the crisis in the Near East is largely attributable to Britain’s unwise Eastern policy during the past three years. It should be made clear to the Government that the nation will refuse to support any war it believes unnecessary and honorably avoidable. All questions outstanding should be speedily composed by negotiations based upon concerted action with the Allies. The policy of isolation and provocation should never have been assumed, and should be finally abandoned. The policy entailed vast additional and quite unnecessary expenditure, and brought us to the very brink of war. the issue of which at Home and abroad none can foresee.