Evening star., 1923-04-03
KEMAL GRIPS REIN,
STRIKING RADICALS
Forces Adjournment of An
CORA Assembly and Replies
to Allies Alone.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN
~ Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News
Copyright. 1923.

BY Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright. 1873.
CONSTANTINOPLE, April with
out waiting for the consent of the
nationalist assembly. 1smet Pasha re
piled to the allied note, accepting
with a few restrictions. the proposal
TO resume the Lausanne conference
on April Is. The Turkish delegates
are making hasty preparations to
leave Angora at the week end for
Switzerland
Meanwhile the antagonism between
the followers and opponents of Mus
tapha kemal Pasha has reached a
climax and Kemal decided to end the
which his oponents were gaining
strength daily.
Wavered on Suggestion.
1t had been suggested repeatedly to
kemal TO get rid of the assembly.
but he wavered, fearing that this
might be considered an arbitrary act
and create serious dissensions among
the people and especially in the army.
The assassination of Shukri Bey, the
leader OF the opposition. decided
kemal TO play his last card. and on
Sunday at the suggestion OF the KEN
altst deputies, the assembly was dis
solved and new elections were i'm
mediately ordered.
1t is hoped that the new assembly
will meet early in June. Pending the
election the present assembly will con-
tinue its duties on a reduced scale,
most Of the members returning to their
constituencies TO prepare for the new
elections
Shukri Bey Feared.
Shukri Bey. the main leader OF the
extremists. who was assassinated last
week, was feared by kemal and his
friends on account OF his popularity
in the country. He was a former naval
officer and had the reputation Of pos
sessing great oratoric talent. He had
good record in the navy and was
noted for his probity OF character.
He was assassina ted by Osman Agha,
the leader of a band Of regulars, who.
on account of the great services he
rendered during the Greek war was
looked upon as among Kemars best
friends.
Osman's reputation was well estab-
lished in the near east, where his
brlgandS are reported to have killed
more than 10000 Greeks in the last
three years. He boasted of having
killed with his own hand more than
2,uo0 Greeks and Armenians.
Block Police Investigation.
When it was discovered that Shukrf
Bey had been assassinated after he
had given q dinner to Osman. the
opposition deputies hinted that Kemal
was not stranger to the crime and
demanded that the police inYestiga-
tion be controlled by a parliamentary
commission. The president Of the as
sembly succeeded in having the de-
mand of the opposition postponed
and the next day parliament was dis
solved. The assassin left at once
for Trebizonde. where he Is safe in
the midst Of his 5000 irregulars.
1t is expected that the new elections
Will give an overwhelming majority
to Kemal, s the party in power is
taking all precautions to avoid a pos
sible defeat. The number of IDENTITIES
has been reduced from 35s to go and
the constituencies where the vote is
uncertain or where 1t is known 70
favor the opposition have been sup
pressed.
Control Election Machinery.
The 10000 men in the army are
not allowed to vote, uncertain votes
are avoided and the coalition OF the
Kemalists with the former union
and progress party gives them COM
mand Of the excellent electioneering
machinery.
The opposition is expected 10 put
up a desperate fight, but the chances
of winning by legal methods are very
slight. 1t is, therefore, possible that
this element may compel Kemal to
use armed force, thus plunging the
country into civil war