TURKS' CHALLENGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1922, Page 5

TURKS' CHALLENGE.

NEW DEMANDS MADE. CONTROL OF STRAITS. RESTRICTING WARSHIPS. POLICY AT CONFERENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 7, 5.5 pan. London, Nov. 6. The Daily Chronicle says the Kemalists have demanded the immediate elosing of the Dardanelles to all foreign warships. Constantinople, Nov. 6. The Angora representative has handed the Allied High Commissioners a second Note, saying that warships of all nationalities must ask authorisation to pass the Straits and must salute the new Government in port. Further, the Note demands that the State shall take over the railways. There is no further news regarding the abdication of the Sultan, but it is believed the British authorities are taking measures to protect him and the throne. The National Assembly at Angora has instructed Ismet Pasha to secure acceptance by the Lausanne conference: (1) That the frontiers of Turkey be in accordance with the national past; (2) payment for an indemnity by Greece; (3) the suppression of capitulations; (4) modification of the frontiers of Irak; (5) complete independence for Turkey, financially, economically and politically. Rafet Pasha has suppressed the Turkish Senate. The Allied generals met him today .—Reuter Service. IEPLY BY THE ALLIES. ENFORCING ARMISTICE TERMS. Received Nov. 7, 8.55 p.m. Constantinople, Nov. 7. The Allies have replied to the Kemalist note stating they will observe the strictest neutrality in Turkish internal affairs, but nothing must be done to modify the Mudania conventions, which the Allies have decided to apply.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. NEARING CATASTROPHE. EXODUS OF FOREIGNERS. PROTECTION OF ALLIED TROOPS. Received Nov. 8, 12.35 a.m. Constantinople, Nov. 7. Affairs are regarded as approaching a catastrophe. The Customs have begun application for the tariff, which has been collected in the Kemalist regions and which is fivefold the wartime tariff. Many Turks are taking refuge in the Embassies and are appealing for protection. The better class Greeks and Armenians are leaving the city. The daily exodus will become uncontrollable when the time comes to withdraw the Allied troops, but a communique issued by the Allied High Commissioners that the forces of occupation will remain at present to ensure law and order had a somewhat reassuring effect. Several thousand Greek refugees from villages Th the neighborhood of the Allied line embarked under British auspices yesterday. Everybody w endeavoring to convert liras into sterling, which is practically unobtainable. It is reported the Kemalists are imposing a levy on native. Christians in the suburbs for the upkeep of the Turkish forces.

THE SULTAN’S Paris, Nov. 6. The Petit Parisian says the High Commissioners do not conceal their anxiety at the situation created 'by Rafet Pasha’s coup. The question arises as to whether the lights of 400,0 C. Greeks and Armenians in the capital can be safeguarded. The Mudania armistice recognised nothing would be changed before the ratification of a treaty, hence the anxiety of the Christian and foreign .population. The Sultan refuses to renounce the Khalifat. The Sultan’s firmness is so unusual that it would appear certain he had received assurances of security from Britain, and thus be able to declare he was tired of the insult 3 of Angora. The Press states he is going to India, where the Mohammedans have the greatest regard for him. It is understood that is the reason the Kemalists are insisting on the renunciation of the Khalifat before he leaves the country, as the Khalifa’s departure would seriously embarrass them. A message from Constantinople says Tewfik Pasha denies that the Sultan has abdicated. Tewfik says the Sultan intends to clear himself in the nation’s eyes. Nationalist circles, however, declare the Sultans abdication is imminent. The administration is now entirely in the Nationalists’ hands, and the law courts are passing judgments in the name of the Angora Assembly. REASSURING REPORTS. RAFET PASHA’S UNDERTAKING. London, Nov. 6. The Foreign Office regards Rafet Pasha’s undertaking that he will respect the Mudania convention as distinctly reassuring, and points out that the demand for the evacuation of Constantinople (of which the Foreign Office has not yet been advised) would be in direct conflict with the convention. Official circles point out that the Turks are not sufficiently equipped to undertake each an enterprise. Regarding the civil administration in Constantinople, the opinion is expressed that Angora’s claim to replace the Constantinople Government in the capital and even throughout the Gallipoli area could hardly be resisted, since it is the only stable Government in Turkey, but the change would not affect the continuance of the military occupation, which is essential under the terms of the Mudania convention. One benefit resulting from the change will be to make the task of the Lausanne conference easier. Under the old conditions the conference would probably have begun with a wrangle regarding the respective rights of the Constantinople and the Angora Governments. Now Turkey will speak with one voice. Owing to the British elections and the change of Government in Italy, it is regarded as impracticable for the conference to meet on November 13, and a postponement for a week is most probable-