The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-12-20
Turk Fears
Jeopardize
Conference
Allied Leaders Say They Have
Uttered Last Word on
Question of Liberty
of Straits.
United States Is Silent


Turkish fears of submarines. Turkish
fears of swiftly flying military air
planes, laden with bombs, and, gen
orally. fears of aggressions from with
out that will put Constantinople In
danger have tonight placed the whole
Lausanne conference in jeopardy.
The United States is silent on the
situation. but the allied leaders say
tonight that they have uttered their
last word on the question of liberty
of the straits. Tomorrow the Turks
must say yes or no to the allied prof.
ect
The British experts. Admiral keyeS
and Gen. Burdett Stuart, already
have left for England, believing their
work to have been completed, and
the French experts are preparing to
depart tomorrow night at the conclu-
sion of the last session" for discus
sion of the straits. Whether a rup-
ture will come on the straits problem
depends chiefly on whether the en-
tente diplomats and their experts can
remove the Turkish fear. This they
are trying to do tonight.
Try to Oalm fedrS.
The diplomats are endeavoring to
convince the Angora statesmen that
the straits problem is essentially franz
ed to meet conditions in times of
peace, and that the allies are not in
any sinister hidden manner seeking
facilities for war. and especially
against Turkey. They say they have
only sought the equality of all fleets
passing through the straits on peace
ful errands.
The allies have emphasized that
they cannot accept the Turkish re-
quest for the suppression of subma-
rines and military airplanes; especial
ly have they been unable to accept
the Ottoman suggestion that combin-
ed foreign fleets entering the Black
sea shall not exceed in strength the
fleet of the strong naval power OF
the Black sea. THAT would make the
Black sea forbidden ground" said
French expert tonight.
AS the Russians f.-e here only for
discussion of the straits question. to-
morrow may see the last of them at
Lausanne. They still are in a fight
ing mood. however. George Tchit-
oherin was in the argumentative form
today. He tried TO win American SYM
pathy for tho Russian straits project
by insisting that it incorporated the
American idea of "beneficent war
ships"
Refuse Moscow Plan.
But, the allies have agreed that the
Moscow straits plan is absolutely un-
acceptable. Tchitchern made a dra-
matte appeal to the world masses. lie
said Russia was convinced the worlds
peoples were back of Russia i'll her
attempts TO secure international JUS
tice. He also bitterly condemned what
he called "marnism,' adding, Il
mean the sea militarism which hopes
TO strangle Russia"
An additional fear of the Turks
which the allies must calm tomorrow
is that with which they surround the
proposed international commission to
supervise control of the straits The
Turks claim the commission will be
inquisitorial in nature. that 1t may in
fringe Turkish sovereignty, and. fin
ally, that 1t may be used as club
by some powers to threaten Turkey.
Hence, their ambition to have a gen.
eral guarantee pact signed at Lau-
same which will assure the neutrality
of the straits and prevent acts of hos
tility in Turkish territory
Turks Are Unruffled.
The Turks tonight seemed unruftled.
They did not appear at all impressed
by the ultimatum talk with which the
Lausanne atmosphere is charged.
1t was pointed out tonight that fail.
ure of the straits negotiations would
not necessarily imply failure on other
vital matters of the Lausanne agenda,
one of which is arranging peace be-
tween Greece and Turkey and between
Turkey and the allies.
Marquis CurZon today Informed H.
Barrore of the French delegation that
the British government had abandon
cd the idea OF having the Lausanne
treaty written in the English and
French languages. He agreed that
French alone should be used. AS
France has made no request in this
connection, the English initiative ere
ated an exceedingly pleasant feeling
among the F'renchmen. who like to
have their language regarded always
as the language of diplomacy.