Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-08
I'VE PROPOSAL FOR THE
STRAITS

control of the Straits is q most I'M
Lortant one in the controversy at
Lausanne. II the Allies permit these
4, pass under the domination OF
turkey they will be in nearly as
,lumiliating position as II agreeing 10
ray Turkey an indemnity because OF
.he recent war. The arrogance OF
hussia in assuming to dictate the
terms was never born Of respect for
the power Of the Allies: rather il is
IN the nature of an insult which
should unity the Allies il anything
might. Evidently the crafty Turkish
diplomat. Ismet Pasha. realizes this
possibility and does not care to push
matters to that extreme. Anyhow,
lie remarked TO the representative OF
ire Associated Fress that he consid-
cred the proposal Of the Allies a suit
allie basis for further consideration
which will be taken up Friday.
The proposal 10 briefly outlined as
fellows:
In time Of peace. there shall be
complete freedom Of passage for the
merchant ships Of all nations. but
Ahe number Of warships shall not be
greater than that Of the most power
sii Of the littoral powers Of the
Black Sea existing in the Black Sea
ct the time Of passage.
II, however. the Black Sea powers
should abandon all their naval forces,
individual powers would still have the
hight to send through the Straits =
Sect Of three ships. but only one OF
three ships could exceed q tonnage Of
ten thousand. II war occurred. in
which Turkey was neutral. there
should be complete liberty for the
powers with the same Limitation as
for the number and tonnage Of ships
~ In time OF peace. II war should
break out. and Turkey was .
beiiigercnt neutral warships could
PASS through under the same restric-
tons.
The plan for the Standardization Of
the Straits territorial zone prohibits
fortiAeations on either side Of the
Darda neiles and the Bosphorus. The
soMs includes the GallipoM Peninsula
and takes in the islands Of the Sea of
Marmora and the group Of islands in
the Aegean Sea. which lie at the en-
trance OF the Dardanelles.
Perhaps ismet Pasha Is thinking
81 other ways by which naval vessels
may be stopped other than by fortih-
Vations. II We are to believe no more
than half Of what the aviation en-
thusiasts are telling us. Of huge
fonibing machines which may be d.
seeted by wireless and carry ex-
plosives enough to blow a battleship
out Of water. there are ways which
are undergoing rapid development.
The British idea is to have a Turk
fti permanent president OF the pro-
pcsed commission OF control, also to
lave a member Of 1t selected to rep
resent the United States. As yet our
Government has given no intimation
Ct Its purpose In this matter. Our
observer at the conference, Mr.. Child,
has taken the broad view that the in
forests Of the countries bordering on
the Black Sea make It obligatory to
Keep the Straits open-and Russia is
ore OF those countries. He evidently
sees that the future Of Russia must
lS taken into consideration and that
unless wise and fair provision shall
lie made respecting her interests
what 3 termed a settlement would in
.he end prove nothing more than the
matching OF further trouble. He has
tod the disputants that the United
states in common with every COM
r,ercial nation wished access to every
free body Of water in the world, and
would not be satisfied unless our
ships are permitted to pursue their
fcaceful errands wherever American
citizens and merchant craft are &C.
corded that privilege.
The So"ict foreign minister,
rthitcherin. ridicules the proposals.
II 10 plain that he 10 at the confer.
sncc In the capacity OF trouble max
n. Much depends. It would seem on
how far the soviet's Turkish ally is
s'lling to become involved with the
russian regime and how strong A
cement for concerted action the
Humiliation OF the Allies will prove
to be. The Turks occupy a point of
vantage In that they are at present
fairly we'll united, having the back
ing OF religious fanaticism in Egypt
snd In India and--temporarily-the
non religious fanaticism OF Russia.
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