Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-09
ALLIES STANDING
FIRMLY IN REGARD
TO SMYRNA ORDER

>: IarlS' Feb. z. (By A. P.)-The AL
i.es are standing firmly on their no.
s.'ohs IN regard to Smyrna. It was
Nciared tonight at the foreign office
"lu tneir small fleet there was rein
'oiSeu turing the day by the British
cruiser Curacao. The commanders
VI me vessels have been instructed
mo- rol 10 leave in obedience with the
49,, N'sh demand that they evacuate
."e harbor. and are under strict or
uers 10 open fire if attacked by tie
Shor= batteries.
me American and utch war craft
'. eApected to leave the port, it
was said because thew are NOT in the
same position DIS tho Allies. inosmnc h
as the United States and Holland
are no, Signatures OF the armist;ce
arfanged with the Turks at Mudania.
me Foreign office is still without
news as to whether these vessels
,'1Ne leit. but 1t is ii ought they must
rave uene so since they would be
pi'tsa III ditficHlt position in the
u'He q action between the Allied
He"t "nd the Turkish batteries.
Inc french government is still
very much exercised over the situa-
'ion, although it is felt that the Turks
at Angora will not assume the re-
sponsiblllty for deliberate hostilities
asalnSt Great Britain and France
Iie question now. it is thought. is
whether the Angora government. af-
Ter having told the Allies to get ont
~! SMYRNA. will be able to keep the
.ulklsh officers at that port in hand.
Constantinoplc, Feb. S.-(By A. p.
The British light cruiser Curacao.
with Rear Admiral Nicholson aboard,
entered Smyrna harbor this morn
ing. The Admiral Immediately land
ca. lie called on the Turkish mill
tarS commander and warned him of
the responsibility that would be in
vowed IN any act of hostility.
Inc Allied commissioners have
handed the kcmalists a new note. de-
nandlng withdrawal of the obnox-
lous order against the presence of
foreign warships, at SMYRNA,
washington. Feb S-OficiaI adj
wee today showed that Turkish au
lhorlties at Smyrna did not include
the American destroyer Edsall as
among foreign war craft ordered ont
or that port. The Turkish comman-
der elected to construe orders from
ms government closing the port to
! foreign WarShipS of more than 1000
ION burden as not applying to tho
american craft. although as mat
ter OF official record, the ship does
slightly exceed that size
1t was assumed by officials here
that the action of the Turkish mill =
tary authorities in Smyrna in ex-
cmpting the EJsall from the order
was taken on the tonnage ground
, tor the purpose of avoiding the nee
, eSSlty OF passing upon the more deli :
cate question of American ncutrali-
t.. In any event the question which
Allied nations have had to face in
connection with Smyrna order is not
before the United States govern
mcnt. The Edsall or some other des-
| troNer. Will remain at Smyrna to
look ont for American interests.
Published explanations OF the
Turkish reasons for ordering foreign
war craft out OF Smyrna harbor
would indicate that it was not in
tended by the Ansora government to
include American or any other neu-
trail craft in this prohibition. 1t has
been stated that the Angora govern
ment viewed the presence of Allied
warships at Smyrna as a possible
source of danger to the Turkish ar
my in the event of further hostilities
between Turkish and Greek forces,
as the ships OF the Allies or Greece
might screen the landing of Greek
troops where they could strike at
the rear of the Turkish army.
In view of the reported Turkish
purpose to close SMYRNA harbor by
laying mines. it is to be assumed
that American vessels stationed in
Turkish waters will move in or out
of Smyrna only when urgent errands
require and then with the complete
cooperation of Turkish authorities
who would naturally furnish pilots.
The closure of the harbor was OK
nected to become effective today.