The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-13
NEAR EAST
SITUATION
CLEARING
Russian Attitude Less
Hostile Now Boil
shevik Foreign Min
lister Approves i n
Part Turkish Pro
posals for Regula-
ton Of Dardanelles

pOSdIS lOf heguld-
ton Of Dardanelles
Lausanne, Dec. 8 CBy the Asso-
ciated Press Georges Chicherin,
the Eolshevik foreign minister,
abandoned his previously extreme
ly hostile attitude regarding the
Dardanelles question at this after
Moons peaceful session Of the Near
Eastern conference and express
ed approval Of the Turkish pro-
posals for regulation Of the straits
with the reservation that he must
see the actual words Of the sec
tions covering the various points at
issue before he could give full ap-
proval to them.
Japan today spoke for the first
time on the straits problem. Baron
4iaga=hi. the japanese representa-
tive, said that japan, as a power
,,aving great shipping interest in
tie Mediterranean, hoped for
trade in the Black Sea and was
.vitally interested in the regulation
of Near Eastern waters: He was
entirely in accord with the words
Of Richard Washburn Child, the
American ambassador. concerning
the straits and liberty of COM
merce in the Black sea and said he
had listened with great delight to
the statements of Ismet Pasha on
behalf of Turkey, who had ap-
preached the difficult problems in
a sympathetic and conciliatory
manner. Baron Hayashi added
that the address of Lord curzon,
the British foreign minister, had
assured him that solution OF the
straits. question was nearing.
Review by Curzon.
Lord curzon opened the session
with long detailed review Of the
points on which the Turks differ
ed from the entente plan and re-
piled to questions on which Ismet
Pasha had asked further informa-
tion at the5 corning session. His
address indicated that most OF the
questions on which the entente and
the Turks differed we're proper sub
iects for discussion in an infor-
NAL way by military and naval eS-
perts, and expressed the opinion
that such discussion would bring
forward the necessary technical in
formation which would undoubt-
edly form the basis for agreement.
The only harsh note of the ses-
sion came when M. Chicherin and
NJ. Rakovsky. also Of the Russian
delegation. demanded that Russia
be admitted to all informal dis
cussions which may take place be-
tween the. military and naval eX-
perts Of the Turks and the entente
on the straits question.
Lord Curzon held this would be
impossible as these discussions
would be informal and wholly uns
official. He said Russia had no right
to demand representation when the
other powers interested in the
straits were making no such re-
quest. In case the problem Of the
straits was discussed in fun con-
ference or by a subcommittee,
Lord curzon explained that the
Pussian experts would be welcom-
ed.
Acceptance By Turks.
In opening the session. Lord Cur
zon said he was glad the Turks had
accepted the principle of demili-
tarized zones on the straits. provld-
ed they were assured adequate pro-
lection: that the Turks had ac-
cepted the principle of free passage
of warships and merchantmen IN
times of peace or war, and also IN
principle an International commIs-
son to regulate commercial navi-
CATION. He added that the Turks
had laid down the basis of the
regime they desired to see applied
TO the straits and that it seemed
possible to harmonic this with the
entente views.
The Turks withdrew their sug-
eestion that the powers should not
be allowed to maintain warships in
the Black sea. SO that the question
was not discussed at the afternoon
meeting.
Taking up in order the snsges-
tions Ismet Pasha made at the
morning session on which Turkey
desired further explanation. Lord
Curzon said that on the question OF
guarantee that Constantlnopie
would be free from attack the al
lies felt the allied proposals were
adequate so far as military and
naval guarantees were concerned
He indicated. however. that. as IN
the case of Thrace, further inter
national guarantees of a poiitical
character were worthy of consid
Grafton.
This question had been matter
of study on the part of the allied
iurists in order to reconcile their
views.
On Ismet Pasha's suggestion that
there should be limitation OF
naval forces. entering the Black
sea. Lord Curzon declared he
thought the principle laid down by
the allies was sound, but that the
allies were willing to interpret it
in a liberal way and felt sure a
satisfactory formula could be
worked out after conversations.
Commenting on Ismet Pasha' S
point that there should be liberty