ALLIES FIRM.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1922, Page 5

ALLIES FIRM.

TURKS MAY CLIMB DOWN. FOOR BRITISH STABBED. SITUATION AT CHANAK. ADVANCE OF TURKS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 p.m. Constantinople, Nov. 7. Demonstrations in the Asiatic quarter of Constantinople took a turn yesterday, when the windows of the houses of Christians were and two British soldiers were stabbed, necessitating the arrest of two Turkish police. Two British soldiers were also stabbed at Galata by demonstrators shouting,; “Down with Britain, France, and the Allies.” There is a threatening situation at Chanak. Although the Turkish troops are keeping behind the lines, their gendarmerie, who are really troops with a different label, advanced preetieally t against the British wires, actually preventing British patrols advancing beyond the three mile limit. General Herington is taking up the matter with Ismet Pasha. The Allied generals had a three hours’ interview with Rafet Pasha this morning. General Harington pointed out that Rafet was apparently trying to usurp the authority of the Allied generals, and seemed to forget the exist l ence of the Treaty of Mudros, which the Mudania convention had not superseded. The Allied generals were unable to ditest themselves of authority, and there could only be one control, namely, that of the Allies. Constantinople would eventually, probably within a few weeks, be handed over to the Nationalists, but meanwhile the Allies would not surrender their responsibility for the maintenance of order and security. General Charpy, on behalf of France, endorsed General Harington’s declaration. Rafet Pasha, replying, expressed ignorance of the notes which the Angora representative had handed to the Allied High Ccmmiseioners. He said the notes were diplomatic. He was anxious to work in agreement with the Allies, but he was unable to accept any form of control. He promised to ask for instructions from Angora and consult the Allied generals to-morrow. The meeting therefore ended in a deadlock, but there is reason to believe the Kemalists will climb down before the strong and united attitude of the Allies. AUTHORITY FOR MARTIAL LAW. POWER OF THE COMMISSIONERS. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Nov. 7. The Foreign Office states the Allied High Commissioners in Constantinople have been authorised to proclaim martial law if necessary. M. Barriere, Ambassador in Rome, and M. Bompard, a former ambassador to Turkey, have been appointed the French delegates to the Lausanne conference. FATE OF THE SULTAN. THE OPINION OF MOSLEMS. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 p.m. Paris, Nov. 7. The, Agakhan. writing in Le Matin, says the elevation to the Khalifat is the result of election, and therefore the deposition is not revolutionary. If a Khalifat other than the oldest of the Ottman line is nominated, an election must be made by all the nations of Islam. A commission composed of highly placed Indian Moslems is coming to Europe to ascertain the reasons for deposition. Received Nov. 8. 5.5 p.m. Delhi, Nov. 7. Moslem opinion is very reaeayed about the action of the Kemalists in depriving the Sultan of his temporal and spiritual powers, but from the panegyrics on Kemal it seems probable that efforts will be made to find excuses for accepting his action as binding. One quarter suggests that a conference representative of the Moslem world should elect the Khalif, but it is doubtful if this is practicable or if the jKemalists would accept the conference. THE SULTAN’S VIEW. DECISION NOT ACCEPTED. Received Nov. 8, 5.5 p.m. / Constantinople, Nov. 7. The Sultan, when he visited General Harington yesterday, said as Khalif he was head of the whole Moslem world, and therefore unwilling to accept tne decision of the National Assembly. ANXIETY IN THE EAST. ANTI-KEMALIST FEELING. Received Nov. 8, 8.20 p.m. Cairo, Nov. 7. Opin inn in the Alazhat University, a famous Moslem religious centre, is greatly incensed at the Kemalists’ presumption in depriving the Khalifate of temporal power. The trend of comment indicates that France’s claims to be the chief protector of Islam were weakened by the action of its Kemalist proteges, which earnest Moslems fc&r betokens the rupture of Islamic unity through the advent of rival claims for the fcalifate. Received Nov. 8, 8.20 pjn. London, Nov. 7. The Morning Post’s Bagdad correspondent says the statement that the Kemalists intend to demand the return of Mosul has alarmed the Irak Government, and intensive pro-Kemalist propaganda is proceeding here. The Government fears that Mr. Bonar Law s Cabinet, in order to placate the demand for a reduction of the commitments abroad, may .agree to the return of Mosul, and even Bagdad to the Turks, on the ground of economy to Britain.