Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-09-28
Cannot Accept Conference Invi-
tatlon, Spoks, nan Says.
INSISTS DEMANDS Be ALTERED
Want Russians and Bulgarians to Join
Deiiberations-Expect kemaIists to
Accept.

Constantinople. Hamid Bey,
representative of the Angora gov
eminent in Constantinople, declared
the allied invitation to peace CON
ference could not be accepted by the
Turkish Nationalists on the terms laid
down.
We cannot accept the allied terms,
because they propose TO demilitarize
the Sea Of Marmora and part of
Thrace, which would prevent us from
bringing our troops from Asia to Eu-
rope, said Hamid in d statement to
the correspondent Neither can we
accept literally the condition our army
shall NOT advance while the peace
conference is progressing.
.9rhis would 50 circumscribe our
movements the enemy would have am
pie opportunity to prepare forces for
a Fresh attack, and would give the
allies Il chance to complete their land
and naval reinforcements In the event
tile conference failed.
Regarding the Straits, we have al
ready admitted freedom for The pass
age of all vessels through the Darda-
nelles but we are not prepared to
define in what authority or body the
control shall be vested. That question
must be settled at a conference be-
tween the Turks and the allies.
I'VE also insist all nations having
commercial, military or other interests
In the Dardanelles, including Russia
and Bulgaria, shall participate in the
conference.
eve further insist Great Britain
shall suspend all naval and military
movements in the Straits during the
course Of the conference"
The allied high commission pre-
sented Hamid Bey with the invitation
to the peace conference for transmits
sion to Smyrna. The invitation al
ready had gone direct to Kemal Pasha,
the Nationalist leader, by cable. Con-
trary to past practices, the invitation
ignores the sultan's government, which
1t Is assumed has lost the privilege
OF participating in the conference.
General opinion among the allied
officials who understand the psychoI-
ogy Of the Turks, and the political and
military necessities OF the Nationalists,
is that Mustapha Renal will accept
the allied conditions, but not before
trying to obtain recognition Of further
conditions laid down in the national
pact, including the abolition Of the
capitulations.
This city was in full cry of exhul-
tation over the announcement the al
lies We're prepared to return Thrace
to Turkey. Turkish newspapers pub
lished special editions, some of them
printing photographs of the ancient
capital Of Adrianople, which is quite
as sacred to the Turks as Constantine
ople. Others published full page pho
tographs Of Renal with a halo around
his head.
The Greeks, while distressed and
disappointed over the loss of territory
which had cost them so dearly, were
in large measure frankly relieved at
the prospect 0 peace. The more belli-
cose among them declared their nation
would fight to the last to retain
Thrace.
The British officials announce a
Turkish force of HOO cavalry, which
crossed the neutral zone at Chanak
Saturday night, has retired on Baira-
milk, following meeting between the
commanders of Turkish and British
forces. No shots were ired. The
Turks retired under white flag.
Major General Frederick b. Maurice,
who for long period during the war
was chief director of military opera
tons at the war office in London and
now is the military expert Of Lon
don newspaper, said to the. correspon-
dent: "The war Is over, Renal will
accept the allied proposals with reser-
vations. He is just as anxious for
peace as the allies, but one must
not take him too lightly. II
would take good deal to defeat the
), Kemalists, but / am Sc confident Of
peace am leaving for England"