The Washington herald., 1922-12-04
Conference Reaches Crucial
Stage as Deliberations Begin
Over Control Of DardaneIIes
RUSSIANS AIDING TURKS
Tchitcherin Urges Ismet to
Stand Firm Against Efforts
to InternationaIize Waterway
By JOHN HADLEY.
International News Service.

LAUSANNE, Dec. 3.-The Near
East peace conference will reach
its most critical stage tomorrow
when it takes up the settlement of
the Turkish straits-Dardanelles,
Bosporus and Sea of Marmora-
the most important waterway from
. strategic military and political
standpoint touching European soil.
TURKS UNDECIDED.
The Soviet Russian delegation.
headed by George Tchitcherin, peo-
pies commissar for foreign af-
fairs in the Moscow government,
will participate directly in the con-
ference for the first time when the
Turkish Strait commission meets.
Russian representatives will be ap-
pointed to this commission.
Tchitcherin conferred with Is
met Pasha, leader of the Turkish
delegation all day long. presenting
the Russian viewpoint and attempt
ing To stiffen the Turkish attitude
on the Russian Strait. The Rus
sian envoy brought all his per-
suasive powers to bear upon the
Turkish chief in an effort to have
him stand firm for the demand
that the Dardanelles shall he
barred in the future to warships
Of all nations except Turkey.
Before the arrival of the Rus
Eians. Ismet had discussed the Oar.
danelles question with British
French and Italians and he pointed
out that he was unable to give
decisive answer to the Russian
requests until all this data had
been placed before the Turkish
Nationalist Assembly at Angora.
Two additional Turkish delegates
were scheduled to arrive tonight,
bearing fresh instructions from
Angora for Ismet.
DEADLOCK ON ISSUES.
Tchitcherin said that the Rus
slams did not covet the Turkish
strait. He declared that Russia
was more interested in seeing that
the Turks got justice than anything
else"
Soviet Russia holds the view
that the Turks should be allowed
to build as many Notifications as
they wish along the Dardanelles so
long as they allow free passage of
merchant ships of all nations" said
Tchitcherin.
When the conference enters its
third week tomorrow it will find an
unbroken deadlock on all questions.
The greatest resentment yet dis
played by the Turks was shown
over the allied proposals that the
capitulations be maintained at Con-
siantinople under the new treaty.
FIGHT CAPITUI.ATIONS.
Ismet Pasha and his colleagues
said thar they could never permit
this. They declared they were un-
der def finite orders from the Angora
Assembly to obtain the abolition of
the old Capitulations.
Three SIb-commissions now have
the subject of capitulations under
advisement
While official orders have not
been issued for the exchange of
Turkish and Greek civil populations,
Il IL understood that the movement
Is under way This will affect more
than 1.00O. 900 Turkish and Greek
residents OF Greece. Thrace. and
Asia Minor. This question likewise
n in the hands of sub-commission.
The real fight beginning tomorrow
will rage over future control Of the
Turkish Strait. Ii the Allies are
successful in having them kept open
for merchant ships and warships of
all nations without any fortifica-
tinnS along the shores it would give
Great Britain control of the Black
Sea.