The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-06
Continued Resistance by Otto
man Troops the Cause.
Refuse to Accept Blame for
Participation in War.
INFLAMED AGAINST ARMENIA
Excuse Massacres, Saying Ar
menians Offered Resistance.
Chamber of Deputies Demands
US. Probe Atrocities.

London, March 6.-There is likell-
hood that Cillcian massacre will
cost Turkey much of what the treaty
Of peace would otherwise have left
her, according to expressions heard in
inner circles at Whitehall. where al
lied foreign ministers continue franz
ing the Turkish settlement. The pro-
posed western boundary from Enos,
on the Aegean sea. to Vida on the
Black sea, may be abandoned and the
line drawn much farther east. This
would limit Turkish possession in Eu-
rope to the narrow peninsula north of
the Sea of Marmora.
France and Great Britain are cred
tied with being in agreement in this
respect, but there is less certainty eX-
pressed as to Italy's attitude and the
matter is yet to be settled definitely.
Another effect of the Cilician outrage
Is said to be unanimous assent among
members of the foreign ministers
council toward totally depriving Tur-
key of any army and permitting her
to maintain only a force of gendarmes.
This scheme. which has been dis
cussed for some time, seemed recently
to be doomed to abandonment, but it
is now said to be the most probable
solution of the question.
Demand Probe by United States.
Constantinople, March 6.-Resolu-
tions asking the United States to send
a commission to impartially investi-
gate the Marash massacre and condt-
tions generally in Anatolia were
passed unanimously today by the
Turkish chamber of deputies. This
action followed an address by Arif
Bey. who today was elected president
of the chamber. succeeding Rechad
Kisafet Bey, deceased.
During the debate 1t 7as charged
the inter-allied censorship did not per-
init Turkish language newspapers to
tell the Turkish version of the Marash
incident, altho it was said Greek and
Armenian journals were permitted to
give their versions as we'll as publish
reports of massacres elsewhere, which
never occurred. Turks. it is said, are
not permitted to deny these reports.
The British rench and Italians con-
duct the censorship and Americans are
, not participating in this work.
Sail Pasha. minister IF marine, is to
be named grand Vizier. it is reported,
instead of Izzet Pasha. who is the ma
tionalists' choice and consequently
distasteful to the allies
Turks Are WarIike.
British forces in the Mesopotamian
oil region. particularly near Kerkuk
and Mosul, have been engaged in con-
slant skirmishes with tribesmen and
Turkish irregulars, the opposition OF
these forces being similar to that en-
countered by the French at Aintab'
Marash and other points in Cilicia.
Recognition of the Armenian repub-
lie without defining its boundaries is
said to have undoubtedly embittered
the Turks in Cilicia. The Armenians
there claim that Adana and all Cilicia
must be incorporated in the new re-
public as they belonged to ancient Ar
nenia.
It is said that French forces of oc-
cupation have enlisted many Armen-
ians. thus tanning the ancient racial
and religious hatred between the Ar
menians and Turks and linking it with
the actual state of war existing be-
tween Turkish and French units. II
also affords a screen for Armenian
massacres in the vicinity of Marash
it is declared.
Won't Listen to Allies.
Protests by allied representatives
that the Turks are conquered and
must accept consequences of war have
little effect on the Turks, who insist
they entered the war against their will
and dismiss the matter as If the dis
position of Turkish affairs were not
connected with the war.
The horrors of Armenian massacres
and deportations during the great
struggle are blandly met by the Turks
with the statement that the Turkish
4 army suffered at the hands of Armen-
ians and that the deportations were
necessary. 1t is also contended that
the recent massacre at Marash does
not approach Greek atrocities against
the Turks when the former landed a.
Smyrna last year under orders OF the
supreme council of the peace confer
ence. Nationalist leaders also say
frankly that many clashes similar &c
that at Marash are inevitable if the
Europeans insist on partitioning por-
tions of Turkey where the Turks pre-
dominate.