, 1922-12-31

The Hague. The United States de-
clined an invitation to this confer
ence. This seconc meeting lasted
from June Is 20 July 20 and ended
without result because the other ma
tons could not stomach the exces-
sive demands OF the Russians for
credits in return for concessions.
Mustapha Kemal Pasha and the
Turkish natlonaiists. who had dis
avowed all tho doings OF the Turkish
government at Constantinople. spent
the sunni In secretly preparing for
a great offensive against the Greeks
in Anatolia. They opened the mt
tack on August % and took the
enemy completely by surprise. With
in one week the Greek armies
been routed and drivn back 10 Smyr-
ma and other oas positions and
Athens was asking for an armistice
and agreeing 10 get out OF Asia
Minor. Kemal occupied Smyrna on
September 9 and five days later a
large part OF the city was destroyed
by flams. At first the Turkish
troops were blamed for this, out later
Developments Indicated the conflagrs-
ton was started by the fleeing
Greeks and by looters. Great Br-
tain. which had been sponsor OF the
Greek venture in Asia Minor. was
alarmed by the expressed intention
Of the nationalists 10 a k possession
of Constantinople and the rest of the
old Turkish empire, and she called on
her dominlons and France. Italy, Ser
bit, Rumania and Greece to Join her
m the defense OF the Dardaneiles.
France. which had been giving aid
and comfort TO the Turks and Italy
objected to military operations
against the Kemaiists. n some of
the British dominlons were notice
ably cold. However Britain hurried
endorsements TO her land anc naval
forces in the Near East and let tho
Turk and the world know that she
would act alSne II necessary. The al
les on September % invited the ma
tionslists TO a peace conference.
| sgreeing to return for tho guaran.
/ teed freedom of the straits. Renal
| insisted tina Russia must be included.
and the allies agreed that the soviet
government should participate in set
, Element of the question of the Oar
daneiles After several trying days,
when war seemed almost unavoidable
tho allies and nationalists met at
| AluNtllAA VII OSACb6A ~ 49,
armistlce. A week later a protocol
was signed providing for the evacu-
alton of eastern Thrace by Greece
within fifteen days and its delivery
to Turkey within, forty-flve days, and
yielding TO the Kemalists the civil
| control Of Constantfnople pending a
peace conference. This conference
| opened in Lausanne. Switzerland. No
vember 90. with the prospect of being
long In session. The United States
declined full participation. but sent
Ambassador Child, Minister Crew
and Admiral Bristol to guard the In
| ~terests Of America and Americans,
hese being especially in connection
! with the oil fields Of Mosui. The con
ference had TO deal with the frontiers
of the Turkish state. o in Europe
and in M~esopotam.a, where the oil
fields are located, and there were in
dications that the British would be
willing to abandon their mandate
there and throw over Fesal and his
kingdom of Iraq. which is included in
that territory. in return for virtual
control OF the oil deposits. The mat
ter OF the control of the straits also
was the subject of Jealous contention.
Ostensib.y. Great Britain wished them
tho demand of the Kernalists that the
to be open to all. Russia supported
control be vested In Turkey alone,
with guarantees for the ireedom OF
the waters. On November 81 Adri-
anople and Eastern Thrnce were
turned over to the Turks. but the
Turks retained military control OF
Constantinople.
The international permanent court
of Justice. perhaps the greatest
achievement Of the League of Ma
tons so far, held its first session In
The Hague OIL February 10. The
council of the league met in London
in July II. and five days later an
nounced that the British mandate
for Palestine and the French man
date for Syria wee approved The
assembly of the league began It's an
nual session in Geneva September 4.
with Augustsn Edwards of Chile pre-
siding. Hungary was admitted 10 the
league.
on May is tho conference to set
tie the old Tacna-Arica dispute be-
tween Chile and Peru opened in
Washington. and I'm due time came
to a successful conclusion. adopting
a compromise plan suggested by Sec
rslary Huchea- Colombia and Xeno-