The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-10-02
CONFERENCE
TO DECIDE ON
NEUTRAL ZONE
Great Britain Recedes From
Position to Avoid Outbreak
OF HOstilities
TURkY DEMANDS THRACE
Wants to Cross Straights in
Pursuit of War Against
Greeks
TURkY DEMANDS THRACE

Constantinople, Oct. 2.-An i'm
mediate mutual agreement to sus-
pend all movements of troops was
expected here today to be the first.
outcome of the Mudania armistice
conference which is set to meet to-
morrow.
With an armistice conference de-
finitely fixed for tomorrow at Mu-
dania, the peril Of war between
Great Britain and Turkey appear
ed less menacing today.
Great Britain's recession from
the neutral zone controversy caus-
ed no little surprise and disap-
pointment here, but it was gen
orally admitted this step was the
only thing which could have stay
ed Mustapha Kemal Pasha's hand.
1t is pointed to as another evidence
of England's extraordinary pa
tience and earnest desire to avoid
war.
Up to the time of the issuance
Of Brigadier General Harington's
temporizing note Saturday night,
the situation looked exceedingly
critical. It is now conceded his
tact and tolerance, coupled with
the timely arrival of reinforce
ments from England, prevented
the Turks from striking at Chanak.
Situation Strained
The situation Saturday aeter-
noon was so strained break SEEM
ed inevitable. The British orders
were to defend Chanak at all costs
as the Turks were slowly envelop-
ing the Dardanelles citadel.
Saturday morning the Turkish
forces were increased by 1900
cavalrymen and everything indicat-
ed the beginning Of a hostile move.
New difficulties await the Brit
ish at the armistice conference.
1t known that the Kemalists will
insist upon the British withdrawal
from the Asiatic shores of the Oar
danelles and the immediate eva
cuation of Thrace by the Greekp.
They will probably also demand
the right to cross the straits to
pursue the Greeks as we'll as guar
antees against the use Of Turkish
waters by Greek warships and
transports. The presence Of Greek
war craft at Rodosto furnished the
Kemalists with a pretext for ac-
cusing the British of ignoring
ther pledges regarding the non use
of neutral waters by the Greeks.
1t is expected the conference may
drag for several days as the
Kemalists doubtless will bargain
and haggle over every point. It is
felt that the influence of the Italian
generals will be an important fac
tor in bringing the meeting to a
successful conclusion.
The British declare they will in
sist upon occupying the Asiatic
banks of the straits even at the
peril of the conference. They may
also contest the immediate with
drawal of the Greeks from Thrace
making this conditional upon ac-
ceptance Of the allied peace pro-
posals. The inviolability Of the
straits will be stoutly defended.
The allied policy at the Mudania
conference, it was learned, this
forenoon, will be decided upon at a
meeting in Constantinople this af-
ternoon of the allied generals, ad-
mirals, high commissioners and
military attaches in extraordinary
council.
The conference will discuss the
occupation of Eastern Thrace of
detachments of inter-allied troops
during the Greek army's withdraw
al.
The expectation here is that the
Greek evacuation will begin imme-
dately after the conference, per-
mitting the establishment of the
Turkish administrative control.