The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-27
u. S. FOR OPENING
OF DARDANELLES
Secretary Hughes Makes
First Statement on
Eastern Question
AMERICA IN ACCORD
Nation Trusts Suitable Ar
rangements Can Be Mede by
Allied Governments

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 26.-Allled
proposals to insure effectively the
freedom OF the Dardanelles and pro-
lection OF racial and religious minor
ities in negotiating permanent
peace settlement OF the near eastern
crisis, "are clearly In accord with
American sentiment" Secretary
Hughes declared today in the first
formal assertion OF American policy
toward the Turkish problem.
At the same time. Hughes took oc-
caslon to express the trust of the
washington government that arr
rangements would be made to keep
the straits open and maintain peace,
pending the conference to conclude
a final treaty OF peace between
Turkey, Greece and the allies"
The statement was made in reply
TO question submitted TO Secre-
tary Hughes by the Associated Press
as to the atU ude OF the American
government toward the peace pro-
posals made by the allies. His an
swer follows:
THE American government Is
gratified to observe that the proposal
OF the three allied governments seek
TO insure effectively the liberty OF
the Dardanelles, the sea OF Marmora
and the Bosphorus as well as pro-
lection OF the racial and religious
mlnorities.' Theee points are clearly
in accord with American sentiment.
This government also trusts that
suitable arrangements may be agreed
upon the interest OF peace TO pre-
serve the freedom OF the straits
pending the conference to conclude
final treaty OF peace between Tur-
key, Greece and the allies"
Beyond this expression, state de-
partment officials declined to go into
detail outlining the American attl-
tude. No authoritative statement was
available as TO the possibility that
the washington government would
accept an invitation to be represented
at the conference at Venice to nego-
tiate the peace treaty.
No Territorial Comment.
Secretary Hughes declined specifi-
cally in answering the inquiry az 70
the American attitude to comment
In any way on any territorial ques-
tions involved In solution OF the
present near eastern problem. How
ever II was pointed out at the de-
partment that the points upon
which the secretary did express the
governments views involved only
matters in which the United States
has n very direct interest or long
standing. These include free move
ment between the Aegean sea and
Black sea for American vessels; the
right under treaty of the denomina-
tional educational institutions main
tanned in Turkey by American relig-
lous organizations and other similar
matters. with the territorial read
iustment in Turkey as a result or
the World war or OF the present de-
velopments due to Kemalist sue
ccsses. the Washington government
Is not now concerned.
There was some feeling among Of
ficials that the positive assertion
OF American approval OF the main
allied principles Of settlement might
help smooth ont the situation. 1t
was felt that the Kemalist govern
ment might be influenced to GER
tain extent by knowledge OF the
American viewpoint.
Gcddcs Gets Approval.
There is little question that Sir
Auckland Geddes, British ambassa-
dor. in his long conference yester-
day with Secretary Hughes received
a clear impression of American ap-
proval OF the allied peace proposals
insofar MS the non-territorial points
are involved.
Thus far the American govern
ment has not participated in any