Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-27
TURKISH TROOPS
(continued from Page ons)

| AO1txA10Xx kNOOA ~
| Continued from Page ons)
made by the Allies. His answer fol-
lows:
THE American government Is grati-
fed to observe that the proposal OF
! the three Allied governments seeks to
| insure effectively the liberty OF tho
J Dardanclles tho sea OF Marmora and
/ the Bosphorus. as we'll as protection OF
| the racial and religious minorities.
These points are clearly in accord
with American sentiment.
This government also trusts that
suitable arrangements may be agreed
! upon the interest of peace to preserve
! the freedom of the straits pending the
conference to conclude a final treaty
! OF peace between Turkey. Greece nnd
! the Allies"
| Beyond this expression. state depart.
ment officials declined TO so en- out
! lining the American attitude. No au-
/ thoritative statement was available as
, to the possibility tina, the Washington
government would accept an invitation
! to DO represented at the conference Of
! Venice to negotiate the peace treaty.
| AS the question has not arisen except
| in unofficial reports from London IL to
the desire of the British government
for American participation. II was
deemed to he not now before the
| American government.
Mr.. Hughes declined specifically in
answering the inquiry as to tho Amer
| lean attitude to comment In any way
on any territorial questions involved in
solution OF the present Near Eastern
problem. In this connection. however.
it was pointed out at the department.
that the points upon which the sccre-
! tary did express the governments
! views involved only matters In which
the United States has a very direct
interest of long standing. These in
clude free movement between the
| Aegean and Black seas for American
vessels, the rights under treaty Of tho
denomina tional educat ional institu-
tions maintained in Turkey by Ameri-
can religious organizations and other
similar matters. With tho territorial
rcadjustnents in Turkey as result
of the Great War or of the present de-
vclonments due to kemalist successes.
the Washington government is not now
concerned.
There was some feeling among Of
ficials that the positive assertion OF
American approval OF the main Allied
principles OF settlement might help
smooth out the situation. 1t was felt
that the Kemalist government might
| be influenced TO a certain extent by
knowledge Of the American View
point. AS a matter OF routine any
governmental announcement OF such
importance as Mr.. Hughes statement
! OF today is communicated to Ameri-
| can diplomatic representatives abb Dad
and Rear Admiral Bristol Mt Con-
stantinople will without question, be
able to advise the kemalist rcpresen-
tative there quite fully Of the Amert-
can attitude.
There also is little question that
Sir Auckland Gcddes, British UNI
bassador. in his long conference yes
terday with Mr.. Hughes. received q
clear impression of American ap-
prevail of the Allied peace proposals
insofar as the non-territorial points
are involved.
Thus far the american govern
| ment has not participated in any
treaty negotiations arising from the
war except where it waJ itself =
bclligerent. Turkey and the United
States never were at war and the
treaty of Sevres. rejected by the
Angora government and which the
Venice pact is proposed to supplant.
| was framed without American parti-
cipation 1t is a fact. however. that
in that treaty the United States was
| named as one OF the powers to share
in administration OF the ncutral'zed
zone of the srait3 the treaty would
have created The Washington SOW
eminent was not consulted by the
treaty negotiations before II was in
Guided in this group OF powers.
A further complication to any dir
ect American participation in the
, Venice conference may arise from
| the demand of Russian Soviet au-
| thorities to be represented In the
negotiations ard Kcrnalist support OF
| that demand. Should an invitation TO
! the conference tie extended to the
| United States and also TO the Mos
| COW government, the policy OF alb
staining from any political inter-
| caursc with Soviet Russia. which the
| Washington authorities have foliow-
| cd. would have to be considered.
Tho British original proposal that
admin: stration Of the straits be pro-
vided TO. under the League OF Ma
| tons, also presents possibilities OF
complications for the United States.
There we're indications that the
Near Eastern situation was discussed
| TO some extent at the cabinet meet
| ing to-day, although nothing was SAID
| in official quarters as to the nature
| of the discussion. 1t appeared signi-
flcant, however, that Mr.. Hughes de-
cided to give an official glimpse OF
| the trend of thought within the gov
eminent in relation to the crisis ana
it's developments soon after the capi-
net citing broke up.