Evening star., 1924-10-17

at Lausanne, In 1877. 1t was suggest
ed as solution of the racial friction
In both countries. The proposal re-
ceived the unqualified sanction of the
Turks. as to it's compulsory character,
but was accepted by the Greeks only
under protest
In the course Of the discussion, M.
Venizelos, former premier of Greece,
said:
"The Greek delegation wish to
state that the idea of a compulsory
exchange of population between Tur-
Key and Greece has always been re-
pugnant to them, but their consent
to join in discussing the question has
been forced upon them by a stern
| necessity, namely, the expulsion of
$4,000 Greeks from Anatolia; to
which have been added 800 900 Greeks
| who have left Eastern Thrace since
the evacuation Of that province by
the Greek army"
Hundreds of thousands of Greek
| refugees followed the fleeing army
out Of Turkey after it's defeat and
the destruction of Smyrna.
The homes abandoned in Anatolia
by the Greek refugees have remained
unoccupied; whole villages were de-
serted. The Turkish government has
forbidden the return of Greeks to
| that region. as it is intended to be oc-
Supicu ny tHc uIhlSu refugees
Theoretically, the mixed commits
sion. appointed by the Lausanne con-
ference and headed by a neutral
chairman. acts as a clearing house for
all property left behind by the ref
| ugees- 1t is agreed that it shall be
| appraised, and, in case the property
| left by the Turks in Greece exceeds
that left in Turkey by the Greeks, the
! Turkish government will pay the bal
| oy,0o f0 fH~ l.
1t is not clear, however. how JUS
tice will be- done to the individual
refugee compelled to leave his meager
PROPERTY behind. The temptation to
graft and rob the departing enemy
| appears irresistible.
X +
A strong effort was made by Turkey
| to expel from Constantinople the pa
triarch of the orthodox church-the
equivalent to the Pope of the Roman
Catholic Church. This was resisted
by the Greeks, together with the rep
resentatives Of all other nations, on
the ground that such removal would
shock the entire orthodox church,
hence the attempt was abandoned. 1t
is understood, however, that the pa
triarch is to cease all political activ-
ity and to conflne himself to eccle-
siastical affairs.
The effort OF the Turks to drive out
the patriarch is consistent with their
expulsion of the Mohammedan caliph.
The New Turks are determined to rid
the state of all ecclesiastical interfer-
ence.
X \ + 4
The Armenians are not included in
any phase of the Greco Turkish inter-
change of peoples. But, according to
Lord Curzon, of the 100000 Arme-
mans formerly in Turkey only 10000
| remain. besides the $4,000 who have
| emigrated to Celicia- Hence, Lord
Curzon was skeptical as to the Turks
professed affection" toward the loyal
Armenians.
The Turks questioned the total of
100000 Armenians as ever having
lived in Turkey, and counted the total
as less than half that number. Even
so, no explanation has been given for
| the sh hrinkage to 30,000-one-tenth Of
the Turkish estimate.
Owing to the inability Of Armenians
to procure Turkish passports, our
State Department agrees to visa in
| stead papers OF Identification issued
by the League Of Nations. This does
not increase the legal quota of immi-
grants admitted.
0Oopyxtgbk 1Q14. hY S1l Z. Colljnsl