Evening star., 1922-12-20
Americans Disagree With Al
lies, Desiring 0ut-and-0ut
Freedom for Waterways.
TURKS MUST SANCTION
OR REFUSE PLAN TODAY
U. S. Stand Stiffens Moslem Posi-
tion and Nervous Tension
Reigns at Farley.
Ry thelAssoriated Press

by heiAssociated Press.
LAUSANNE. December 20.-On the
eve of what threatened to be criti-
cal day in the life of the Lausanne
conference, Ambassador Child last
night had a long conversation with
Ismet Pasha about the straits prob
lem, which Lord Curzon yesterday de-
clared must be disposed of immedi-
ately.
1t has become known that the
American observers at the conference
believe that an international control
commission associated with the
league of nations, as suggested in the
allied plan for supervision Of the
Dardanelles, is unnecessary. In other
words. the Americans believe that
freedom of the straits should be an
actual freedom guaranteed by
treaty between Turkey and the other
powers, and that it should not be 4 free
dom limited by an international COM
mission.
The American observers have so far
on the conference floor limited them
selves to statements of the most
generous terms on the Dardanelles
question, without suggesting as to
how the straits should be kept open
to the commerce of the world and to
the fleets of the powers. Neither
have there been intimations as 70
Americas attitude toward interna-
tional control.
Definite Stand Demanded.
Allied leaders last night served
notice that the Turks today must
OF
lied project for settlement of the
straits question. Failure of the Dar-
danelles negotiations. ii is believed,
will hardly affect the other problems
which the conference was called to
solve
Nevertheless the atmosphere be-
fore the hour the last session on the
straits problem was to open was one
OF high nervous tension with the fear
expressed in some conference quar-
ters that the reported American op-
position to the straits commission
plan was stiffening the Turks not
only on the straits question. ut also
VI vital questions like the customs
:ariff and minorities.
Although there was uncertainty as
to whether Ambassador Child. as the
American spokesman, would voice the
American views at today's meeting. it
is understood that every delegation
here claims to be cognizant OF the
fact that the naming Of an interna-
tional commission meets the strong
disfavor of the American observers.
Turkish fears of submarines. Tur-
keys fears of swiftly flying military
airplanes. laden with bombs. and, gen
orally. Turkish fears of aggressons
from without that will put Constanti-
nople in danger have placed the whole
7 Ia1 no n rf7x-
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 tonight
at the conclusion of the last session"
for discussion of the straits. Whether
a rupture will come on the straits prob
lem. depends chiefly on whether the
entente diplomats and their experts
can remove the Turkish fears. This
they are trying to do.
The diplomats are endeavoring to
convince the Angora statesmen that
the straits project is essentially framed
to meet conditions in times of peace.
and that the allies are not in any
sinister. hidden manner seeking facili-
ties for war. and especially against
Turkey. They say they have only
sought the equality Of all fleets passing
through the straits on peaceful errands.
The allies have emphasized that they
cannot accept the Turkish request for
the suppression of submarines and
military airplanes: especially they
have been unable to accept the Otto
man suggestion that combined foreign
fleets entering the Black sea shall not
exceed in strength the fleet of the
strongest naval power of the Black
sea. THAT would make the Black sea
forbidden ground" said French ex-
pert last night.
The Russians are in fighting mood.
George Tchitcherin was in fine argu-
mentative form yesterday. He tried
to win American sympathy for the
Russian straits project by insisting
that it incorporated the American idea
of "beneficent warships."
But the allies agreed that the Mos
cow straits plan is absolutely unac.
ceptable. Tchitcherin made a dra-
matte plea to the world masses. He
said Russia was convinced the worlds
peoples were back of Russia in her
attempts to secure international JUS
tice. He also bitterly condemned what
he called 'marinism," adding, II mean
the sea militarism which hopes to
strangle Russia"