THE NEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1922, Page 7

THE NEAR EAST.

ANGORA DEMANDS. MUDANIA CONVENTION INFRINGED. _ I RESISTANCE BY ALLIES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Constantinople, November fl, Apart from official circles there is much nervousness in the European quarters. Business men and others are ready at a moment’s notice to quit the city. The populace continue to make demonstrations- and anyone not wearing a fez is liable to be insulted and roughly handled. It is obvious that the arrival of Rafet Pasha to take -over the government of Thrace is a bluff, designed to throw dust in the eyes of the High Commissioners. His true objective was to overthrow the Sultan, win over; the troops at the Sultan’s disposal, and prepare the way for the complete domination of the city. In this the Angora supporters have been completely successful. There is no longer any correct distinction between the Governments of Constantinople and Angora. The Angora authorities have notified the Allies of further encroachments on their authority. Bread will cost at least double as the result of the new tariff. There will also be a 'substantial increase in other prices. Angora also notified the Mixed Court, constituted under the capitulations, that is must cease to fipiction. The International Sanitary Commission, to which the Allies contribute, has been informed that the Angora Government has assumed control of the sanitary administration. Finally a regulation has been issued that no passports from Constantinople shall be issued to Ottoman subjects without a 'Turkish police vise. This means that no Ottoman can leave the city without Angora’s permission. The. regulation is possibly designed to prevent an exodus of men available for military service arid pro-Sultanites. Tfie Angora authorities arrested Kemal Bey, ex-Minister and ■ editor of a leading anti-National iist paper, which ceased publication some time ago. The High Commissioners decided that this is a form of tyranny which cannot be tolerated while the Allies are responsible for law and order in Constantinople. The Allies have not yet sent a reply to other notifications which relate to matters outside the scope of the High Commissioners, and must be reserved for the consideration of the. Government. Some of Angoras military demands by the High Commissioners *arc officially regarded as mere feelers, while some of the latest actions of the Angora Government, such as the increased tariff and new passport regulation, are the logical sequence of Angora’s assumption of authority. The attempted suppression of the Mixed Court, however, is regarded most seriously. How far Angora intends to pursue the policy taken up will probably be 'seen in the course of twenty-four hours, following the High Commissioners’ prompt refusal of the military demand. It is officially stated that complete unanimity exists between the AQied Commissioners, and tile Allied Governments are co-operating firmly in the resistance of all demands and actions infringing the Mudania Convention. THE NATIONALISTS WARNED. London, November 7. The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states the High Commissioner informed Hamid Bey that though the change in the regime at Constantinople was an internal affair in which the Allied Powers did not wish to meddle, while the occupation continued the Nationalist administration must be controlled as hitherto. There could not bp any change of system, because the Allies were responsible for the maintenance of order and must assure the safety of their troops. Hamid Bey replied he would transmit the ’Views to the Foreign Minister. A similar communication was addressed to Rafet Pasha by the Commissioners intimating that his attitude was impossible. They said the Allies were in Constantinople by virtue of the Mudms armistice, not Was a result of the Mudania convention. If the capital was to be administrated by the Nationalists-, they must conform to the existing control by police, gendarmerie and troops. Arrests such as those carried out by the Kemalist followers could not be tolerated. TURKISH DEFENCE. CONFERENCE ISSUE CLOUDED. New York, November 7. The Constantinople correspondent of the New York Herald says it is evident the Turks believe the British are paralysed by the political situation and incapable of offering mfiliitary resistance. Rafet Pasha, by the assumption of so-called civil authority obtained control of the Sultan’s guard of 5000 troops with considerable reserves, all of whom donned the Nationalist cockade. The Nationalists thus have a. trained army ready for action in the city: They have also been recruiting in Thrace. Consequently the Lausanne conference wil] meet under strong Turkish military pressure, and the issue -seems more doubtful than ever. The representative, of the Chicago Tribune in StambouJ reports that Rafet Pasha has closed the Porte (Foreign Office), and announced that the city is no longer more than a province. MARSHAL FOCH CONFIDENT. Paris, November 7. The Petit Parisen reports that M. Poincare conferred with Marshal Foch who expressed an opinion that if the Turks are as intoxicated by victory as to violate pledges, it will be relatively easy for the Allies to maintain themselves on the European side of the Straits. Although there is- anxiety in Constantinople there is no reason to ! suppose the Turks will resist the- Allies and expose themselves to measures of force., The Journal des Debats says 10 Turkish vessels disembarked Kemalist soldiers at Lap’saki. on the east side of the Dardanelles, five miles south of Gallipoli. Their objective apparently is to seize Gallipoli, civil control of 'which will be transferred bv the Greeks on November 20 to the French troops in <&ccpuation.