Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-27
ATTITUDE OF UNITED STATES
 ON NEAR EAST MATTERS


 ON NEAR EAST MATTERS |
 
 Washington, Sept. '26 (By the A. p 1 Allied proposals to ensure effecdvely freedem of the Dardanelles and protec- ton of racial and religious minoHties in negotiating a permanent peace settle. ment of the near eastern crisis are clearly in accord with American senti- ment," Secretary Hughes declared to- day in the firgt formal assertion of American policy toward the Turkish problem. At the same time, Mir Hughes took occasion to express the trust of. the Washington government that arrange ments would be made to keep the straits oren and maintain peace pending the conference to. conclude a final treaty ot peace between Turkey, Greece and the allies.
 Secretary Hughes Reply. The statement was made in reply to a question submitted 10 Mir. Hughes by The Associated Press as to the attitude of the American government toward the ! peace proposals made by the allies. His answer follows
 aThe American government Is grati- 1 fed to observe, that the proposal of the three allied governments seeks to in | sure effectively the liberty of the Dar- danelles the Sea of Mar1nora and the Bosphorus as well as protection of the racial and religious minorities.' These Joints are clearly in accord with Amer | ican sentiment.
 This government also trusts that suitable arrangements may be agreed upon in the interest of peace to preserve the freedom of the straits pendinh the conference to conclude a final treaty of peace between. Turkey. Greece and the allies
 i Beyond this expression state depart ment officials declined to go in outlining the American attitude, No authoritative siatement was available as to the possi- bility that the Washington government would accept an invitation 10 be repre- I.sented at the conference of Venice to ne gotiate the peace treaty. As the, ques- ] tion has not arisen except in unofficial | reports from London as to the desire of the British government for American 1 participation it was deemed to be not now before the American government. Mir Hughes declined. specifically, 1T answering the inquiry as to the Amer
 ican attitude, to comment in any way on any tei'r .torial questions involved 1T
 solution of the present near eastern problem. Tn this connection, however
 lt was pointed out at the departmen
 that the points upon which the secre
 ts~y did express the governments view. involved only matters in which tn
 United States has a very direct interes Of long standing. These include ire
 movement between the Aegean an . Black seas for American vessels. tn ! rights under treaty of the denomina tionai educational institutions maintain
 cd in Turkey by American religious or nd fhae : With the territorial establishments , Turkey as a result of the great war e s of the present developments due | e kemahst successes the Washingto 8 government is not now concerned !, Might Smooth Out Situation.
 There was some feeling among of = cials that the positive assertion n American approval of the main. allie c principles of settlement might llel s smooth out the situation. It was fe - that the kemalist government might. I influenced to certain extent by know; edge of the American viewpoint. As matter of routine any governmental pri > nouncement of such importance as M lt Hughes statement of today is comm,
 nicated to American diplomatic ,repr e sentative sabroad and Rear Admin i-i Bristol at Constantinople will wifho, It question be able to advise the KemaJi 'f representative there quite fully of Ii -o American attitude
 C. There also is little quegti on thai S le1 Auckland Geddes, British ar1baSsado 1t in his long conference yesterday wi It MT. Hughes, received a clear inuressi, I'd of American approval of the allied .pea al proposals insofar as the non-territor; ie points are involved. What further ir er precision he may have formed as -a An1aripar xrfillt,, c., S. tiations of the proposed treaty has n
 been disclosed. There was no stateme a- to be obtained at the state depa-tme, IS however. which seemed to foreshadc sh that course. 'i- Thus far the American rovern,n. a. has not participated in any treaty nee 1g tiations arising from the war exce on where it was itself a belligerent. Turk
 and the United States never were An war and the treaty of Sevres, re4ecf he by the Angora government ard whj C. the Venice pact is proposed to suppla h. Mvas framed without American mari.
 pstion. It Is a fact, however that irs. :.
 that treaty the United States was nan
 as one of the powers to share in adn, .n istratien of the neutralized zone oP f
 straits the treaty would have creaf he The Washington government was , ed consulted by the treaty negotsators be fore 1t was included in this eroup ty. powers.
 sr- A further complication to any dIr ,rt American participation in the Ven
 conference may arise from the dema on of Ruesian soviet authorities to sbe r lee resentsc in the negotiations and Rem cir ist. support of that demand Should !, fs- invitation 10 the conference be extent CT, to the United States and also to len MOSCOW government, the policy of
 staining from any. political intercos.
 with soviet Russia, which the Washi,
 ton authorities have followed wo have 10 be considered.
 
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