The Washington herald., 1922-09-27
FOR FREE STRAITS
Nationalist Chief Believes
British Would Close
Dardanelles.
RECALLS ACTION
AGAINST RUSSIA
Ready for Conference on
Basis of Aims of His
Empire.

Ho " p.oNOhc WIN
Great Britain or to increase the
demands voiced repeatedly during
the last three years-the complete
independence of the Turkish empire
with the complete freedom of the
Dardanelles to all nations.
Eut Mustapha Kemal Pasha and
the Turkish Nationalist cabinet are
determined to carry through their
projs cts until the aims announced
by the Nationalist party are
achieved. II Great Britain insists
on any other treaty terms.
These were the outstanding i'm
pressions carried away from an in
terview today with the commander
in-chief of the Turkish armies. Tur-
key is ready to give every reason
able guarantee for assuring the
freedom of the Straits TO all ma
tionalities, il the interested powers
in their turn guarantee the safety
of the Turkish capital and the Sea
of Mamora.
Ready fos Conference.
Turkey is ready for an immediate
conference with the Allied powers
and Russia at which the problem Of
n settlement of the Straits question
will be discussed on a basis of the
Nationalist aims.
Turkey looks with faVer on any
proposals through which might be
made an interchange of the Chris
tian minorities in Anatolia for the
Moslem minorities in Greek terri
tories.
/ | met the courteous and capable
leader of the Nationalist forces for
the second time this morning. In
view of the rapid developments in
the Near East, since l last saw him
ten days ago, / asked him to be kind
enough to explain the Turkish
Nationalist position regarding the
various points on which Great Brit
ain has taken issue with Turkey
The first question discussed was the
freedom of the Straits.
Wants Freedom Of straits.
we often have made clear our
position regarding the Straits" be-
gan Kemal. but it will not be in
vain to reiterate this position once
more. Our point of view is that Of
the whole world. We want to open
the Straits and to see TO il that they
are kent safe. Therefore, il would
not occur to us TO erect fortifica-
tions at the Straits. Consequently
we are ready to do away with the
existing Notifications. but our capl-
tai is on the Bosporus and ITS
safety must be secured. IL is for
this reason. safety of the Sea OF
Marmora is necessary.
I'VE have only to insist on two
principles. freedom of the Straits
and the safety Of our CAP tai.
"On this basis We are ready to
ACCEPT any solution fulfilling these
demands which might be proposed
by all the interested powers of the
world. This is matter of princi-
pie not laid down today. The foun-
dation for the grand national as
sembly were laid on this and simi
lar fundamentals. Therefore we
expect the whole world to believe
in our sincerity on this and other
points.
straits Closed by England.
"A state Of freedom for the
Straits is in accord with the real
interests of the Turkish govern
| ment and the nat onal assembly.
would call to mind that i'm former
days il was not the Turkish gov
! ernment which closed the Straits
but England who was interested il
doing so against Russia.
The freedom of. the Straits is
our desire and we beDeve that II
is in conformity with the wishes
of the whole world, except one
power - England = which is in
terested in closing them, If they are
| closed.
England has not expressed her
self openly on this view to the allies,
but it maintained the Greeks at the
Dardanelles, using them as an instru-
ment for closing this waterway
Great Britain always has said that il
was interested in the freedom of the
Straits. but this can not be true. II
it were there would be no difference
| i'm opinion between the British and
and Turkish governments. because
We have repeatedly declared for the
free passage of the Dardanelles.
Question British Attitude.
There are two solutiops to this
question. One, freedom of the Straits.
That we, and the rest of the world
desire. Two. closing the Straits
through British control of the instru-
ment.
If Great Britain desires the free
dom of the Dardanelles, there is no
question. If she is for closing the
Straits. either through agents or di-
rectly by herself. the world must de-
fine its position. In view Of pres
ent position of the armies of tht
Grand National Assembly. the Straits
already are under our influence. CHe
previously explained that the Nation
alist troops had already entered Eren
Keui on the Dardanelles.)
But we have no desire to TAX,
| advantage of our position or tC
interfere with their freedom. i
, will remain for the rest of the
world to unmask England and gC
to the bottom of her attitude.
am sure that France, Italy and th'
United States are aware of thu
real ideal of the British. 1t re
mains for them to declare anS
publish it,"
What guarantee for the safet,
of Constantinople and the Sea o.
Marmora would your excellenc,
suggest?" ! asked.
I'VE would prefer not to sug