The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-23
CONFERENCE
CONSIDERS D
THE STRAITS

s-kss1St41&4AAS,1A 4A10
fore the Lausanne
Conference
Lausanne, Dee. 13 By the As
sociated Press The subcommis-
sion Of the Near East conference
which is considering the various
plans for regulation Of the Turk
sish straits adjourned late this af-
ternoon until tomorrow without
having reached any decision.
The plan presented BY N. Tehit-
eherin for the regulation of the
Turkish straits was given out in
summarized form
Chapter / provides for conhrma-
tiisn Of Turkeys sovereignty over
the straits, the latter being defined
as including. the Straits Of Darda-
nAlses, Sea Of Marmora. the Bos-
pherus and the Aegean islands.
Chapter specifies the regulation
applicable in time of peace to
merchant ships and commercial. air
planes, which would have full lib
erty sof passage, and to warship and
military forces. 1t declares that,
By virtue of principle "a long
time abiished, 2 the straits would
be recognized as closed to tlleswar
ships, including submarines, Of all
nayies excepting Turkeys and the
fight Of all military airplanes. e3-
eept Turkish machines. would be
prohibited 81
However. in absolutely isolated
and exceptional cases, and for def
snite purposes, Turkey. by special
DEGREES duly published could au-
thorize the passage of light war
ships. submarines excluded. The
tonnage limit of these warships
would he 5000, and the gun caliber
limit. Is eentimeters.
Passage would not include the
right to landings in the straits or
the discharge OF war material, and
the commander OF each warship
wonld be required to give previous
announcement OF his attentions 10
pass. SO that the Turkish author
tres eaRld verify the authorize
ton.
During the var tiEne., in. case
Turkey was nsutrai, all merchants
men could pass free:y with the
understanding that Turkey reserr-
ed the right to adopt proper steps
70 safeguard her neutrality. In ex-
ceptionaI cases she could permit
the passage Of light neutral war
ships. except submarines, but no
wanships or airplane OF a belliger-
ent power and no military airplane
OF a neutral country would be al
lowed to go through.
The next section refers to such
time OF war as Turkey may be
among the belligerenes. In this
case, neutral merchantmen and neu-
tral merchant airplanes could pass
Turkey reserving the right OF
search. In isolated cases Turk
ey could also authorize the pas
sage OF neutral warships.
To guarantee her sovereignty and
enforce the principle Of closing the
straits to warships. Turkey would
be authorized to maintain in the
straits zone, without restriction,
military and navel forces, in.lud-
ing submarines and air squadrons;
erect ferti6eations. with artillery
OF unlimited caliher;; lay mine fields
and generally speaking, organ
ize the military defense of the
straits by applying the technical
means of warfare, known 10 pres
eat and future times.
Chapter provides that, without
prejudice to Turkish sovereignty
and 70 help commercial naviga-
tioR. an International commits
SION would be appointed to sit in
Constantinople. this commission 10
be composed of one representative
of the states bordering on the
Black sea, and one each from Ger
many, the United States, France.
Great Britain. Italy and Japan,
Under the presidency of Turk
ish delegate.
Chapter 5 stipulates that, within
three months after the signature of
the accord, the powers would rec
ognize the Black sea as closed
sea belonging to the Black sea
countries.
The agreement would run for ten
years and be subject to renewal.
New Plan Presented.
Lausanne, Dec. IS (By the Asso-
ciated Press ).-Absoiute control OF
the straits Of the Dardaneiles and
Bosphorus by Turkey would be
given under a plan submitted this
afternoon by Foreign Minister
Tehitcherin of Russia to the COM
mission Of the Near East confer.
ence studying the status Of the
straits.
This plan would bar all sub
marines and military aircraft from
the Black sea. but would permit
Turkey to allow warcraft not ex-
ceeding 5000 tons to pass through
the straits in exceptional cases
when not on military missions.
This is wholly at variance with