Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
GREECE RECALLS
ENVOY TO TURKEY
Demand Minister Explain An
goran Delay in Settling
Exchange of Subjects.
BY FRANCIS PSALTZ,
Special Correspondent of The star


CONsTANTINOPLE, July 13.-The
Greek government has decided to call
to Athens its Minister In Angora for
an explanation Of the endless differ
ence Of the populations between the
two countries. With the Lausanne
treaty a special convention was signed
to this effect between Turkey and
Greece, but since July. 1928, the date
of the signing of the Lausanne treaty,
this convention has never been entirely
applied.
A Greek-Turkish subject living in
ConStantinople and whose status is not
clearly established, owing to this con-
vention, cannot marry. The Turkish
Authorities viii not give the necessary
permission for the civil marriage, and
as this civil marriage Is obligatory by
the law In Turkey and must precede
the religious ceremony, the church it
self cannot even marry the persons OF
this category. And this situation has
lasted many years.
Persons in this category cannot start
for a voyage abroad nor In the interior
Of the country. They do not know If
cannot engage In commerce. THIS Is
also one of the reasons Of the economic
crisis Of Constantinople.
Negotiations Last Six Years.
Negotiations between the two govern
mentS for the settlement Of these COM
piicated questions through the mixed
commission named by the League OF
Nations at Geneva have lasted six years.
Lately it was said that an agreement
was to be signed between the two gov
ernmerts: but now the Greek minister
at Angora, M. Pappas, is called by his
government to Athens for having ex-
ceeded his instructions, the situation
again becomes difficult. specially as
there Is the grave problem Of the race
of naval ornaments between Turkey
and Greece.
premier Venizelos Of Greece has made
some sensational declarations on this
subject to the press. He declared that
the race Of naval ornaments VIII leao
unavoidably to war.
It should be pointed out that since
his return to power the Greek premier
has never spoken until now of war
and until now his various statements
to the press were invariably pacific.
The turkish press here and at Angora
has published in large type these dec
1arations of M. Venizelos. The Turkish
newspapers add that Turkey has the
right to have any fleet that she desires
But Greece has also the right to see
that this reinforcement of the Turkish
feet does not constitute a danger for
her own security. Greece has many
islands to protect, while Turkey has
only coasts, which can be protected
with the army.
The problem is insoluble, the two
countries being right in their respective
positions. The dispute is the same as
that existing between some OF the great
powers which was Professionally settled
by the Washington Naval Conference.
This is the reason why similar naval
accord must be signed between Turkey
and Greece If it is desired to avoid a
war.
Turkish Fleet Superior.
The official Miliat published re-
Gently a message from Angora saying
that the warship Yavoug, formerly the
German Goeben, will leave the docks
of Ismidt shortly. This powerful unit
gives to the Turkish feet a certain
superiority over the Greek feet, al
though the Greek fleet Is stronger in
light unity of destroyers and subn1a-
rines. It can be said that the situa-
ton between the two countries becomes
daily more delicate. in snite OF the
pacific declarations made by the two
governments in their parliaments, and
especially by the Turkish minister for
foreign affairs. Happily. the memory
of the World War Is still fresh In the
minds Of the two nations and exercises
q certain restraint on their national
passions.