SYRIAN CRISIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1938, Page 8

SYRIAN CRISIS

FRENCH AIMS DEFINED ■ PREVENTION OF FURTHER INCIDENTS. PACT OF FRIENDSHIP BEING DRAWN UP. (Recd This Day, 12.20 p.m.) ... . PARIS, June 3. The decision to impose martial law in Alexandretta is regarded as necessary to prevent further incidents, incensing Turkey and irremediably injuring French policy. M. Bonnet (Foreign Minister) discussed the situation with the Turkish Ambassador, who protested against the recent killings; A Franco-Turkish pact of friendship is being drawn, for which reason there is ever inducement to France to avoid increased tension. GOVERNOR RECALLED TROOPS PATROLLING MAIN CENTRES. ARMENIANS IN FLIGHT. (Recd This Day, 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 4. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent at Antioch says extreme tension persists in Alexandretta. Twenty thousand French troops and Moroccan levies are patrolling the main centres. Turkish concentrations remain on the frontier. The French Foreign Office today recalled the Governor, M. Garreau, who adopted drastic measures against Turkish terrorism, and replaced him with Major Collet, commander of the armed forces, whom the Turks regard favourably. They have also replaced .Captain Queen, Chief of the Special Police.

Business is at a standstill. Thousands of Armenians are taking flight, fearing a ’massacre in the event of Turkish control being established. Turkish officers in mufti have entered the Sanjak, mingling with the Turkish population. The Turks have also brought in bands of Arab Nationalists from Syria.