PEACE IN SIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1922, Page 5

PEACE IN SIGHT

ARMISTICE SIGHED. NEAR EAST AGREEMENT. THE PROTOCAL SIGNED. CONCESSIONS TO TURKS. THE ZONES ADJUSTED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 12, 8.5 p.m. Constantinople, Oct. 11. The protocol has been signed. It provides for the Greek evacuation of Thrace, Adrianople, and Karagatch within fifteen days, being replaced by the Allies, while the Turks will occupy the extreme eastern section immediately after the Greeks quit. The Turks take over the middle portion after 30 days and occupy the western frontier of Eastern Thrace 45 days after. When the latter term expires the Allied troops retire west of Maritza. The line separating British and Turkish troops covers the existing Turkish positions, except Chanak. where the Turks retire to a zone bounded from Lapsaki to Kumkale. It was also agreed that the British should not fortify the Dardanelles, while the Constantinople and Chataldja lines are retained by the Allies. Pending the peace conference’s . decision Gallipoli will remain in the hands of the Allies, with a mixed administration, until the conference decides who will hold it. The Turkish Government satisfactorily guarantees the protection of minorities. A mixed commission control* the railways converging on Constantinople, while the Greeks occupy the regions traversed by them.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SIGNING THE PROTOCOL. DRAMATIC SCENE AT END. LAST WORD TO TURKS. BREAK SEEMED INEVITABLE. Received Oct. 13, 12.5 a.m.' London, Oct. 11. The Morning Post’s correspondent at Mudania says now. that the war cloud has melted the Turkish leaders are inclined to forget their earlier impression that Britain was the chief villain of the piece, and now believe that Britain ia prepared to regain the prestige of the Moslem world by doing for Turkey what she did for Egypt, without, however, exacting political control. The final scene in connection with the signing was dramatic. Before midnight the Allied generals took the text of the protocol to the Greek general, who was virtually interned upon the Greek ship Nemesis, as the Turks refused to have their old enemy on shore at Mudania. The hours passed, and still the generals did hot appear. Finally, at 3JO a.m.. General Harington came ashore, took his pipe from his pocket, and said: “It’s all over. Copie* of the protocol are being typed. Yesterday I had no hope. I went to the conference with two ultimatums, one in each pocket, and they are there now. When a break seemed inevitable I told Ismet that this was my last word. Then I walked across to look at a map on the wall. Absolute silence reigned. Then Ismet asked: ‘ls this really your last word?’ I put my hand into my pocket, fingering the ultimatum, and replied: ‘Ye*? Five minutes later I was hopeful for the first time in several days.” He added that only the Chanak troops know how near it was to the first shot, which would have precipitated a conflict. The protocol was formerly signed at 6.35. The room was crowded. General Harington explained that the Greeks would not sign, as they had no instructions. After General Harington reviewed Turkifih troops he returned to Constantinople. The Turks are jubilant over the news. The signature of the armistice brings nearer their long pent-up. desire for the return of the Nationalists to Constanti- < nople.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PEACE CONFERENCE.

TO BE HELD AT SCUTARI. OPENS NOVEMBER FIRST. Received Oct. 13, 12.5 a.m. Rome, Oct. 11. Official: The Near East peace conference opens at Scutari on November I. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE ARMISTICE TERMS. ACCEPTED BY THE GREEKS. Athene, Oct. 11. The Greek delegate? at Mudania were instructed to accept the armistice conditions agreed on at Paris. The Greek Consulate at Constantinople has issued over 30,000 passports to Greeks proceeding to Greece.

ALLIES HOLDING GALLIPOLI.

DENIAL OF BLOCKADE. London, Oct. 11. The protocol provide* that Gallipoli shall remain in the hands of the Allies pending a decision by the Peace Conference. The Foreign Office sent a Note to Russia in reply to the Note protesting against the alleged blockade of the Straits, stating that inquiries showed i that no commercial blockade of the K Straits by Britain exists as alleged by Russia. The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the crucial point of the military convention i* be- , lieved to be the Turkish respect for the neutral zones, the categorical acceptance of which by Turkey will be insisted ■upon. The continued filtration of the troops, euch as has been occurring during the last week, endangers the position of the British forces. The exact limit* of the zones as laid down by General Harington are not known, but probably will lie within the boundaries of the zones as proclaimed in I®Zl.