Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-26
No IntimatiOn of L. S.
Viewpoint Following
Talk British Ambas-
sadOr and Secretary
of State - America
Has Interest in
Treaties of Capitula-
ton with Turkey -
Merchant NJ ar in e
Another Factor

W--hincton. Sept. 25.-Sir Auckland
!; dds. British ambassador. was
among Secretary Hughes callers to-
da, on the lattcrs first day back at his
DIX in the state department after an
aLscrce in Brazil of several weeks.
While no statement as to the nature
cf tho conference was Forthcoming
either at the embassy or the depart
ncu., there were indications that the
Near East situation was among the
subjects discussed.
Tnodicial advices from London have
Indicated that the British government
vould welcome American participation
in Inc proposed conference to deter
mine the final disposition to be made
If the pardanellcs and the Bosphorus.
II WAS regarded as probable that tie
l,rtiSh amba ssador has sought to learn
from Mr.. Hughes whether an invita-
ton to send a representative to the
conference would be accepted by the
Washington government. What i'm
preston as to the American viewpoint
on the question he may have formed
from his conference with Mr.. Hughes
vas not known.
10 to the present American inter
Ncntion in the Near Eastern situation
has been strictly confined to relief
I'LL nT
Admiral Bristol. as high commission
Ct at Constantinople, has not gone
oyond that object.
Il is obvious, however. that with
growing merchant marine the WASH
ih2ton Government has a very mat
cral interest in any question 1nNolN-
ng freedom of the Dardanelles and
the Bosphorus to merchant craft of
all nations. Whether this interest.
IN the Washington view. could be
adequately afeguarded without part
lcipation in the proposed conference
with the Turkish Nationalist author
tiles. has not been disclosed.
Another matter in which the Am
ercan government might become in
terested, very particularly as re-
suit of any settlement reached ty
the Allied powers in conference with
the kemalist authorities, is the sta
tus of the treaties of capitulation be-
tween the Turkish government and
the United States. The eXtra-terr
toflal rights of Americans in the
former Turkish empire. under which
they are subject to trial before con-
Suar courts only. is involved.
The United State never has recoG-
nizcd the right of Turkey to termin-
Sle these conventions on its own mo-
ton, as the Constantinople govern
mcnt cndcavored to do in 1914. The
cypress point of the treaties of capt.
rlatIon is not covered in the so-called
rational pact adopted by the kemal-
ISL government as its statement or
principles. One of the articles of that
pact however, appears to touch the
question in its association of Judi
cal' as we'll as social and economic
independence for Turkey.
In any event, there are important
American considerations involved in
thc State Departments treatment OF
'he Near Eastern crisis. The sub
net, it is thought, may well come up
n the cabinet meeting tomorrow. now
that Mr.. Hughes has returned. and a
final decision may he reached there
IS to the attitude the Washington
vernmcnt will take toward devel-
"'monts arising from the Allied
Nomalist peace negotiations.