The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-28
Turn at Peace Table Brings
Order to British Fleet.
A New Crisis Prevails as Result
of Turkish Demands.
CLIMAX is FAST APPROACHING
British and Turks in Deadlock
Over MOsuI Oil Field.
Child Joins Allies in Demand
ing Guarantees Be Given.
tBy the AssoeIated Press.l


Malta. Dec. 2S.-As a result of un-
satisfactory news from Lausanne, it is
understood that the ships Of the Brit
ish Mediterranean fleet which ar
rived December %. for a three weeks
visit have received orders to return
TO the Near East
Naval authorities were reticent to-
day. but il was believed that Admiral
De RObreck. communicative chief or
the Mediterranean fleet. was prepared
10 leave this afternoon, with all avail
able vessels.
The understanding was that the
dreadnaugh Iron Duke Marlborough
and Ajax the light cruiser Concord
and the destroyers were TO sail east
ward at ( o'clock
The sailing orders were unexpected,
the officers of the fleet having made
arrangements for various functions
here up to the middle of January.
Crisis Prevails.
(By the Associated Press)
Lausanne. Dec. 2S--The near east
conference was faced with a serious
crisis today as the Sharp and appar-
entity irreconcilable conflict between
the English and Turks over the Mosul
oil fields reached a decisive stage.
Lord Curzon's statement that the
turning point of the conference had
come and that England would decline
TO continue the Mosul controversy was
in direct conflict with Ismet Pasha' 5
note asserting tldL LEe uEhAelA BG0-
pie had decided ito employ to the last
limit of its forces all means to obtain
The return of Mosul to the mother
land"
Between these two extremes there
is gulf which seems likely to be
difficult il not impossible for the con-
ference TO bridge.
Prepare for Showdown.
Great uneasiness is manifest thru /
out conference circles because OF the
CT sis which the unsertlement over I
the straits and status of minorities.
indicates that the conference Is last
approaching climax and that both 1
sides are preparing for a final show
down
This tendency was emphasized at
today'S session of the commission on 4
capitulations, at which no progress
was made and after which some OF
the allied delegates declared the con-
ference had reached a deadlock pend
ing the arrival of fresh Turkish in
structIons from Angora.
At this meeting. a sub-commission
presided over by Sir Horace Rumbold /
reported 10 the full commission that
ii has been found quite impossible to
reach an accord with Turkey which
insisted upon trying foreigners in the
Turkish courts. As the allies could
not accept this the sub-commisSion re-
ported the negotiations mad failed
Child Joins With Allies.
Richard Washburn Child. chief
American spokesman. Joined with the
heads of the allied delegations at to-
days meeting of the capitulation COM
mission in declaring that some guar
antee must be given by Turkey to re-
place the capitulations or eNtra-terri-
tOrial rights for foreigners which the
I[emalis,s bad decided abolished
If Turkey showed a spirit of col
of this question, Ambassa-
dor Child said she would receive just
and generous treatment Otherwise,
she must be considered TO have re
pudiated her engagements
War Clouds Loom.
London. Dec. 2S.-Black clouds OF
war gain loOmed ominously over the
Near East today. The menace comes
from the threatened collapse of the
Near East peace conference at I.aus-
anne. The British and Turks are dead
ocked over certain issues and neither
side will give ground. II hostilitieS
break out they Will probably be con-
lined TO Turkish and British forces.
All ava liable British warships In
the Mcditerra of all description,
Lave been ordered to proceed at once
To the Dardanelles. said "A dispatch
from Malta. British naval depot III
The Mediterranean
Great Britain is naSsing one of the
81 irongcst fleets in the Turkish straits
ever known in Turkish waters since
British Holds Upper Hand.
From a military viewpoint! the Brit
Sh hold positions of high strategic
Importance. They command the Dar-
ianpllcs. BosphorOus and sea of Mar
nora with their warships. cutting off
asa Minor from Europe and controh-
nE Constantinople- They could con-
roI all the Mediterranean and Aegean
,oaSt-
The chief fear. however. is that
Russia will join with Turkey.
PLAN SECOND NATIONAL BANK