Evening star., 1922-11-20
LAUSANNE PAR[EY
MEETS TO SETTLE
TURKISH PROBLEM
Freedom of Straits and Near
East Peace to Be
Discussed.
U. S. ENVGfS .JILL TAKE
PART IN DELIBERATIONS
Greece in Delicate Position-Turks
Boastful as Conference
Convenes.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LAUSANNE, November 20.-The
near east peace conference here was
formally opened at 3:45 o'clock this
afternoon. President Haab of Switzer-
land. the presiding officer of the open
ing session, entered the hall at that
hour and read his welcoming address,
to which Lord curzon, the British
foreign secretary. replied.
First Of the leading delegates to
arrive was former Premier Venizelos
Of Greece. He was followed shortly
by Premier Mussolini of Italy. wear
ing the fascist tricolor in his button
hole. Premier Poincare Of France,
followed Immediately by Lord Curzon
and Emile Barrere Of the French dele
cation, entered at $40 o'clock.
Switzerland, at whose capital and
larger cities many international con-
ferences have been staged, again is
host for a gathering of diplomats who
come to discuss one of the most I'M
portant problems before the world at
the present time-the problem Of
Turkey and the near east.
Since the armistice convention end
ing hostilities between the Greeks and
Turks was signed at Mudania. more
than month ago, the near east peace
conference, the plenary session of
which is set for today, has been
eagerly awaited. as many complex
ating of a final treaty Of peace be-
tween Turkey and Greece, the free
dom OF the straits and fixing of the
future status of Turkey. are to be
discussed over the conference table.
Allies Have Plan.
Much satisfaction was evinced on
the United States had designated its
ambassador to Italy. its minister to
Switzerland and Rear Admiral Bristol
to watch the proceedings; even greater
became the interest in the conference
when a few hours before the session
was to open it was intimated that
the United States representatives
would raise their voices at the meet
ing whenever 1t was in the interest
of the United States and Americans
to do so
Premier Poincare win attend for
France, while Great Britain's leading
delegate will be MARQUIS Cursor. the
be present.
The French. British and Italian
statesmen. after a lengthy discussion
under unusual circumstances, were
reported to be in agreement on their
attitude toward the main problems to
come before the conferees. Upon
their arrival at Lausanne by special
train last night NJ. Poincare and
Marquis Curzon requested Prof. Mus
solini. who was at Territet. few
1nc
hut he declined and they journeyed
to the suburb SO that they might
talk with the Italian representative
relative to his opinion on the near
east problem. Mussolini agreed to
come to Lausanne before the opening
of the conference to continue their
conversations.
The Municipal Casino. which over
looks Lake Leman. with snow
crowned mountains on the opposite
shore, has been selected for the OPEN
ing session Of the conference.
Greece at Disadvantage.
Out of difference to the request OF
the entente countries. that a member
of the Swiss federal council pre-
side at the inaugural of the plenary
session. Robert Haab. president OF
the Swiss confederation. has been
designated omclally to open the con-
ference.
The daily business sessions will be
held in the historic Hotel du
Chateau. on the lake side Of Ouchy.
The hotel has been specially reno
waited and decorated for the occasion.
Lausanne's hotels. abandoned dur
ing and since the war on account OF
unfavorable exchange, again are
humming with life and activity. All
Swiss society seems to have as
sembled here.
Geece presents a sad spectacle at
the Lausanne conference. The ad-
vance representatives of the Greek
delegation are flying their blue and
white flag from the hotel where they
are staying.
Eliptherios venizelos. former pre-
mier of Greece, is expected to plead
Greece's case before the peace con-
frence. The plea will be chiefly for
charity-for bread and shelter neces-
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