Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-07
Anti-Greek MODS Riot
In Z Turkish Cries.
Army Units
Petrol Izmir
And Istunbul

ISTANBUL. Turkey. Sept. Z
(R):-Violent anti-Greek riots
have swept over Istanbul and
Izmir, Turkeys largest cities.
causing millions Of dollars worth
Of property damage.
The government imposed mar
tial law on both cities last night
after a fourahour wave of de-
struction and yet uncounted
casualties. It was able to lift
the state of siege today. however.
A communique issued in An
kara, the capital, said Istanbul
and all of Turkey were objects
of a Communist plot and incite-
ment."
It was the first outbreak here
stemming from the dispute over
the future of the strategic island
Of Cyprus. the British crown COL
ony in the Mediterranean which
once belonged to Turkey. Greece
demands that the islanders be
allowed TO vote on union with
G9eece, but is opposed by Britain
and Turkey. The Turkish gov
eminent has declared that II
Britain gives up Cyprus it should
be returned to Turkey.
Conference Fails
Turkish Foreign Minister Fatin
Rostu Zorlu announced in Lon
don today that a nine-day con-
ference of British, Turkish and
Greek foreign ministers on this
issue had ended without agree
ment.
The communique issued in
Ankara implied that Red agents
had inspired the mobs of young
Turks last night. playing on
their resentment of the Greek
demands for Cyprus.
1t expressed sorrow for the
disorders and regret for the
grave damage to shops, homes
and other property owned by
persons of Greek descent. II
promised speedy compensation
land added:
"All necessary steps have been
taken and will be taken to re-
store Immediately public peace
land order violated by these in
, lcidents."
Istanbul and Izrnir formerly
Smyrna both originally were
|, Greek cities and have retained
large Greek populations through
tout Turkish history.
! Premier Takes Charge
Il Premier Adnan Menderes few
Ito IStanbul from Ankara last
might to take charge personally
Iof the restoration of order. Even
before martial law was imposed,
troops and marines, some in
tanks, moved into the ancient
metropolis on the Bosporus to
Iquell the thousands of rioters
roaming its streets.
4 Cyprus itself was the scene
'of violence and armed police
: guarded the Greek Consulate
against any possible demonstra-
tions by pro-Turkish elements
there. A Turkish shepherd was
shot to death while tending his
flock near the village of Chatos.
There was no official estimate
iof casualties in the Turkish riot
ing but the Istanbul newspaper
IMilliyet said more than 800 were
injured. Newspapers estimated
about 500 persons were arrested
in Istanbul.
J. The mobs in Istanbul wrecked
and pillaged hundreds of Greek
shops. Several Greek Orthodox
churches were damaged. Fires
burned at scattered points.
In 1zmir, headquarters of the
lNATO command for Southeast
ern Europe. the Greek consulate
, was reported burned and the
Greek pavilion at Turkeys In
ternational Fair was wrecked. In
Athens the government said the
mobs had looted the houses OF
1 Is Greek officers serving with
:. the NATO command in Izmir.
. March on Embassy
d A crowd of several thousand
l Turks marched on the Greek
Embassy in Ankara. Police dis
-Ipersed them with tear gas.
A dispatch from Athens said
a Greek military Dakota had
been sent to Izmir to evacuate
the families of Greek officers
See TURKS, Page AS