THE NEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1922, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST.

ANGLO-FRENCH AGREEMENT ANGORA WANTS REPUBLIC. fate of the sultan. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Paris, Nov. 2. The Petit Parisien says that Britain and France have reached an agreement regarding the Near East Conference. Both have resolved to maintain the Mudania stipulations at all costa. Turkish mobilisation will not be permitted either in Constantinople or Thrace. *A Constantinople report states that the Angora Assembly has issued a prodamation announcing the dethronement of the Sultan and appointing a Sovernor-General at Constantinople. It aas further decided that Turkey shall be known as the Turkish State instead af the Ottoman Empire, which ie tantamount to declaring Turkey a republic. Constantinople, Nov. 2. The Allied High Commissioners have ardered the Ottoman Bank to sell half i million Turkish pounds* worth of jold, which will be advanced to the Treasury to enable the payment of ial&ries, thus circumventing the Anjora Government’s prohibition of bankjig transactions with the local Government. THE REPORTS PREMATURE. FUTURE OF TURKEY. Received Nov. 3, 9.35 p.m. London, Nov. 2. Messages from Angora suggest that the reports of the deposition of the Sultan are premature. A special session of Assembly adopted resolutions condemning the Palace intrigues regarding the peace conference, and secondly, favoring the reduction of Constantinople to the status of an administrative district. The Chamber discussed a proposition for l separate Sultinate and Caliphate, signed by Rixanur Bey and 76 deputies. The proreedings were heated. One hundred and thirty-two voted in favor of the proposal, but the result was indecisive, owing to the want of a quorum. Later a heated sitting debated a proposal to liberate the Caliphate from its present condition of captivity. Finally it was decided to refer the matter to a judicial commission pending the holding of the peace conference. Mustapha Pasha strongly urged the inconvenience of identifying the Sovereign with the Caliph. —Aua-N-Z. Cable Assn. EXPULSION OF CHRISTIANS. ACTION IN ASIA MINOR. Received Nov. 3, 8.5 p.m. Constantnople, Nov. 2. The American relief committee has received a telegram from the Angora National Assembly announcing its decision to expel all native Christians remaining in Asia Minor. The Americans calculate over half a million will be affected. The new governor of Adrianople has issued a proclamation eaying that non-Moslems remaining in Thrace will be protected. All alcoholic beverages will be seized and the export of cereak prohibited. The proclamations adds that should the gendarmerie prove insufficient for requirements, wellconducted villagers will be enrolled as auxiliaries. THE FATE OF THRACE. TURKS INCREASING FORCE. ANXIETY IN FRANCE. Received Nov. 3, 9.35 p.m. Paris, Nov. 2. Recruiting for the Turkish gendarmerie in Thrace is causing anxiety. Reports differ, but a figure as high as 30,000 is mentioned. The High Commissioners at Constantinople have been instructed to make representations on the subject. Le Temps exprsses the widespread French desire to avoid a conflict with the Turks, and demands the immediate withdrawal of the gendarmerie from Thrace.