Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-27
MOVE To BRING
PEACE To NEAR
EAST IS GIVEN
j. 6. APPROVAL
Allied Proposals in Nego-
tiating Settlement Of Cri-
sis Are in Accord With
American Sentiment,
POLICY Is OUTLINED
BY SECRETARY HUGHES
Statement of Position May
Help Smooth Out the Sit
uation, Is the Feeling
Among Officials,

Washington, Sept. 26 (by the AS
sociated Press. Allied proposals
to insure effectively entrance to
Dardanelles and protection of ra-
cial and religious minorities in ne
gotiating permanent settlement of
the Near Eastern crisis, are clearly
in accord with American sentiment,
Secretary Hughes declared today in
the first formal assertion of Amer
lean policy toward the Turkish
problem.
At the same time, Mr.. Hughes
took occasion to express the trust
of the Washington government that
arrangements would be made to
keep the straits open and maintain
peace pending the conference 10
conclude q final treaty of peace
between Turkey, Greece and the
allies"
Hughes Answer.
The statement was made in re-
ply to a question submitted to Mr..
Hughes by the Associated Press as
w lllC dlilluhp VI lilN 4tlllNi iNelli tSpN
ernment toward the peace proposals
made by the allies. His answer fol-
lows:
The American government is
gratified to observe that the pro-
posal of the three allied govern
ments seeks to insure effectively
the liberty of the Dardanelles, the
Sea of Marmora and the Bosphorus
as well as protection of the racial
and religious minorities.' These
points are clearly in accord with
American sentiment.
This government also trusts
that suitable arrangements may be
agreed upon in the interest Of peace
to preserve the freedom of the
straits pending the conference to
conclude final treaty of peace
between Turkey, Greece and the
allies"
Beyond this expression, state de-
partment Officials declined to GO
in outlining the American attitude.
No authoritative statement was
available as to the possibility that
the Washington government would
accept an invitation to be represent
ed at the conference of Venice to
negotiate the peace treaty.
Mr.. Hughes declined specifically
In answering the inquiry as to the
American attitude, to comment in
any way on any territorial ques-
tions involved in solution of the
present Near Eastern problem. In
this connection, however. it was
pointed out at the department that
the points upon which the secre-
tary did express the government s
views involved only matters in
which the United States has a very
direct interest of Ions standing.
These include free movement be-
tween the Aegean and Black seas
for American vessels; the rights
under treaty of the denominational
educational institutions maintained
in Turkey by American religious
organizations and other similar
matters. With the territorial re-
adjustments in Turkey as a result
OF the great war or of the present
developments due to kemalist sue
cesses, the Washington government
Is not now concerned.
May Help Situation.
There was some feeling among
officials that the positive assertion
OF American approval of the main
allied principles of settlement might
help smooth out the situation. 1t
was felt that the kemalist govern
ment might be influenced to a cer-
tain extent by knowledge of the
American viewpoint. AS a matter
of routine any governmental pro-
nouncement of such importance as
Mr.. Hughes statement of today Is
communicated to American diplo-
matte representatives abroad and
Rear Admiral Bristol at CONSTANT
nople will without question be able
TO advise the Kemalist representa-
tive there quite fully of the Ameri-
can attitude.
There also is little question that
Sir Auckland Geddes, British am
bassador, in his long conference
Yesterday with Mr.. Hughes, re-
eeived a clear impression of AmerI-
can approval of the allied peace
proposals insofar as the non-terri-
torial points are involved. What
further impression he may have
forwarded as to American willing
ness to join in negotiation of the
proposed treaty has not been dis
closed.