The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-09
BRITISH Use
FORCE TO
BLOCK TURKS

AAS Wv Wv N/SAAN|sS WV = "
nople to. Protect Ar
menian Refugees
Constantinople. Dec. 5 CBy the
Associated Press).-Following the
action of the Kenla1ist police in
confscating the passports of 100
Armenians5 as they We're about to
board ship, British troops today
took possession of the customs
house and. armed with machine
guns, protected the embarkations
fof the refugees.
The Turkish police today pre-
vented the embarkation Of refu-
gees on a French steamship at
Samsun, on the Black sea coast
of Asia Minor, despite permission
granted by the Italian authorities
there.
Rafet Pasha, the, military govern
or. had a four hours conference
with the allied high commissioners
and generals and a provisional
agreement was reached permitting
the embarkation Of all presenting
themselves until this evening but
the question of principle was not
settled. and further meetings have
been arranged.
Rafet Pasha takes the attitude
that the allies are not in occupation
of Constantinople and refuses to
recognize the right of the allies to
interfere between him and native
Christians.
The Turks refusal to permit
Greek vessels to embark additional
Christian refugees from Asia Mi
nor has created Keen disappoint-
ment in American relief circles
here. All preparations had beer
competed forsthe use of American
destroEers to facilitate the trans
fer Of refugees to the relief ships
as was doiie at Smyrna.
Four large Greek. vessels. under
the direction OF a. X. Jennings, ar
rived yesterday from Piraeus ready
to proceed to the Black Sea. Mr..
Jennings is the T.. NJ. c. a. sec
retary who earned the title "Ad-
miral of the Refugee Fleet" at
the time of the Smyrna disaster
by mob;lizing fleet of so ships
ard rescuing 100000 persons.
He had six additional ships ready
in Greek ports for his present
task. these. together with the -four
arriving: here; giving = total carry
ing capacity of 10000 persons.
Refusal of the EAngora govern
meGt to permit further embark
aticns was received at Samsun by
Commander. Haisey Powell, Of the
American destroyer Edsall, who
| forwarded the news to constanti-
nop]e by wireless. The Turks de-
Care that not only would they
prohibit further departures on
Creek ships but would deport to
TIE jnterior all Christians who re-
NAMED in the Elack sea coastal
towns after the next few days.
Officials at the American emhas-
sy declined to comment upon this
ruling. but made no attempt to
hide their surprise at the Kemai-
lists attitude. They explained
they had asked nothing more of
the Nationaiists than their sane
tien for the use of American naval
officers as Intermediates between
/ the local officials in the Black sea
ports and the officers of the Greek
refugee vessels.
The Turks failure to meet the
American proposals raises doubts
as to the safety of $4,000 persons
who made their way to the sea
with hope Of leaving the country
It is believed they will undoubted-
ly be depoNed to the interior un-
lessathe allies or the United States
make representations to Angora.
Lausanne. Dec. (By the Asso-
| ciated Press The treaty makers
at Lausanne devoted themselves to-
day to an attempt to harmonic the
divergent views of the various del
esations: everybody seemed to
realize that a few more hectic ses-
sicns like that Of yesterday would
break down the conference and
, postpone Near Eastern peace in
definitely.
The allied leaders held long con-
sultaticns to frame a common pro-
ject for dealing with the Darda-
nelles and reported to have sue
ceeded in drafting q proposal per-
mitting .warships to use the straits
under international control.
The Indications tonight are that
the straits discussion will be re-
sumed tomorrow when the entente
countries will fall in with the
Turkish suggestion and set forth
their wishes. The allies seem de-
! ternined to ignore the Russian
attempt to speak for Turkey and
are determined also to Convince
the Russian representative that
E"lsheviki Russia is not dominat-
ing the straits discussion. The fact
that Isnet Pasha conferred with
the allied leaders helped to
strengthen the impression that if
the conference is not yet out OF
danger it at least is not yet on the
rocks
Another feature of the day was
the peres Intervention in behalf