New-York tribune., 1920-02-18
Turks to Keep
COnstantinODle
They Behave
Britain Serves Notice That
Lenient Terms of Peace
May Be Withdrawn if
the Massacres Continue

LONDON, Feb. 17.-Great Britain.
1T was learned, has instructed Admiral
de Robeck at Constantinople to an
nounce there the fact that the Allies
nave decided not to deprive Turkey of
Constantinople. If the persecution of
the Armenians continues, however. the
admiral was instructed to saw tho
peace treaty with Turkey may be con-
siderably modified.
The fact that continued possession
OF Constantinople had been granted
her should not be misconstrued bv
turkey, the British representative was
directed to inform the Turkish gov
ernment in plain words. 1t did not
mean, he was told to say, that tn.
Allies would deal leniently with Turkey
should the recently reported atrocities
continue.
Admiral de Robeck will point out to
the Turks that they must show an in
clination to comport themselves prop
erly or be subjected to peace more
severe than the council now is dis
posed to arrange.
Great Brltaln's instructions to Adj
miral de Robeck followed action bv
the Allied Supreme Council TODAY in
deciding definitely upon internationa-
allZation of the Dardanelles, which had
been forecast, and also of the Bos
porus. The details of the control
OF the waterways, however, have not
been worked out
Armenian Massacre Scrutinized
The Supreme Council considered the
latest reports of massacres of Arme-
mans. Note was taken of the fact that
the reports for the most part ema-
mated from Armenian sources
one OF the pig questions to be decid-
ed is the policing of the Straits, and
knotty problem is as to who will fur
nlsh the necessary troops.
Further than deciding that Constan-
tinople is to remain under Turkish
control the council has not drawn
definite boundary line. Details such
as the exact frontiers remain to be
decided
Three commissions were set up by
the council to-day IN connection with
the Turkish peace. One is to decide
upon the boundaries of the Armenian
republic, another is to report on the
Turkish finances and the third is to
examine INTO the Greek claims in the
Symrna territory, which were dwelt
upon at length by Premier Venize los
in his statement of yesterday. All the
commissions are expected to report to
the council the latter part of the week
Treaty To Be Drafted at Once
The preliminary consideration of the
whole Turkish question was completed
and the drafting of the treaty will be
started Immediately. Many details vet
remain to be cleared up, as had been
forecast. and the council also must
await the reports of the commissions
appointed to-day to investigate certain
phases of the peace problem
Reports, of the massacre of Arme-
mans in Cilicia came up for discus
sion in the House of Commons TODAY.
Andrew Bonar Law, the government
spokesman, replying to questions, said
the British representative at Constan-
tlnople was taking every step to make
1t plain to the Turkish government that
If this sort of thing continued it would
have serious effect on relations be-
tween Turkey and the Allies. He added
that Cilicia was a great distance from
any Allied troops, but assured the
house that everything possible would
be done.