The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-10-13
WILL URGE EARLY CALLING OF NEAR
 EAST CONFERENCE
Officials of Allied Powers Will Oppose Holding of the
 Farley in Smyrna or
 ConStantlnopIe
nx Ansoclated press

Constantinople, october l2.--Lisu tenant General Sir Charles Haring- ton, British commander-in-c -chief here, will press the allied powers for an early convening of the peace con ference, which he believes will Do the most important council of world powers since the Versailles. It Is expected that the deliberations will require from two to three months as the questions for decision are of the widest importance including the vital interests of all of Europe, and will likely involve many matters outside the Near East.
 Allied authorities here will oppose the selection of smyrna or Constanti- nople for the conference. MaJer Gen. eral Sir Frederick B. Maurice, dis oussing this subject today said:
 1t Is imperative that a neutral city be chosen. smyrna and Constanti- nople are impossible on account of the atmosphere of hostility, intrigue and racial and religious animosities which would surround the delegates. smyrna, with its background of fire, famine and fury. it's air poisoned with undigested hatreds and the populace stiu delirious from the victories of the army, is wholly unsuited to att tract the dove of peace. Ctnstanti- nople, under the occupation of allied armies, is no neutral ground. Even Italy is inappropriate because Italy is a party to the negotiations and is technically one of the adTersaries of Turkey.
 Other Cities Suggested
 The allied representative will ,,x tx l.1 Enrich Geneva, all of them cities free from these objections and comparatively near at hand. The conference will vitally interest all the great nations. Besides Great Britain. France. Italy and Japan. the gathering will receive the undivided attention of Rumania, Jugo- Slavia, Bulgaria and Russia.
 American interests will center in the arrangements for continuation of commercial agreements and the sc- called capitulation as well as protec- ton of the Christian minorities and the right of religious and educational missionaries to carry on their WCrk. The Bnifed States occupies predom- inant pLaition throughout the Near East in all educational. humanitarian missionary and relief activities and the security of these institutions with their property investments of more than 9lVsVVV,VUU must DE E u@i dHtScu.
 Perhaps the most important ques- ton before the conference will be that of capitulation. which are treat ies covering the rights cf foreigners in Turkey and providing for their government under tie laws of their country instead of the Turkish laws, and trial by their own consular courts.
 Demand Abolition
 "Our delegates will demand aboli- tion of the capitalization" said Hamid Bey, the Renal representative today. They are humiliating and opposed to the best interests of our people. For eigners thereby occupy preferential position and enjoy privileges denied to the Turks Tny continue sys- tenn that has hampered the iegisla- tion. justice and finance of the coun- try? Is not Turlxey now an inde- pendent country with the full rights of an Independent nation?'
 The American government will op- pose this claim. The American con sul general Gabriel B. Ravndal, ex- plained today the real reason for the capitulations is that the Turks have not yet separated law and religion in their courts and government
 ''Foreigners, he said. "cannot in Turkey he aGmgtted into the general body and mass of society of the na- ton, as In Europe or America, but they must under the Moslem law con
 (rontinned on Page Twel
 N