Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-26
HUGHES AND GEDDES
TALkDEVELOPME|NTS
IN FAR EAST CRISIS
American Participation In Con-
ference Desired by
British.

Washington, Sept 25.-Sir Auck-
land Geddes, British ambassador, was
among Secretary Hughes callers Mon
day on the latter's first day back at his
desk in the state department after an
absence in Brazil of several weeks.
While no statement as to the nature
of the conference was forthcoming,
either at the embassy or the depart
ment. there were indications that the
Near Eastern situation was among the
subjects discussed.
Unofficial advices from London have
indicated that the British government
would welcome American participation
in the proposed conference to deter
mine the final disposition to be made
of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus.
1t was regarded as probable that the
British ambassador had sought to learn
from Hughes whether an invitation to
send representative to the confer
ence would be accepted by the Wash
ington government. What impression
as to the American viewpoint on the
question he may have formed from his
conference with Hughes was not
known.
We Do Only Relief Work
Up to the present. American inter
yention in the Near East situation has
been strictly confined to relief work
at Smyrna. The work of Rear Ad-
miral Bristol, as high commissioner at
Constantinople. has not gone beyond
that object. 1t is obvious, however,
that with growing merchant marine,
the Washington government has a very
material interest in any question in
volving freedom of the Dardanelles and
the Bosphorus to merchant craft of all
nations. Whether this interest, in the
Washington view. could be adequately
safeguarded without participation in
the proposed conference with the Turk
ish nationalist authorities, has not been
disclosed.
Another matter in which the Ameri-
can government might become interest
ed very particularly as a result of any
settlement reached by the allied pow
ers in conference with the kemalist
authorities, is the status of the treaties
of capitulation between the Turkish
government and the United States.
The extra territorial rights of Ameri
cans in the former Turkish empire, un-
der which they are subject to trial
before consular courts only is involved.
Differ In Attitudes
The United States mas never recog-
nized the right of Turkey to terminate
those conventions on its own motion, as
the Constantinople government at
tempted to do in 1914. The express
point of the treaties of capitulation is
not covered in the so-called national
pact adopted by the Kemalist govern
ment as its statement of principles.
One of the articles of that pact, how
ever, appears to touch the question in
its assertion of judicial" as well as
social and economic independence for
Turkey.
In any event, there are important
American considerations involved in
the state departments treatment of
Near Eastern crises. The subject, it
is thought, may well come up at the
cabinet meeting Tuesday, now that Sec
retary Hughes has returned. and a
final decision may be reached there as
to the attitude the Washington gov
ernment will take toward developments
arising from the allied -Ksmalist peace
negotiations.