From the New York Times
By EDWIN I. JAMES.
Copyright, 1922 by The New York Times Company.
Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES
LAUSANNE, Dec. 1.--A black page of modern history was written here
today. Ismet Pasha stood before the statesmen of the civilized world
and admitted that the banishment from Turkish territory of nearly a
million Christian Greeks, who were two million only a few short years
ago had been decreed. The Turkish Government graciously allows two more
weeks for the great exodus.
The statesmen of
the civilized powers accepted the Turkish dictum and set about ways to
get those thousands of Greeks out of harm's way before they should meet
the fate of 800,000 Armenians who were massacred in Anatolia in 1910
and 1917.
New Light on Turkish Massacres.
Here, in the beauty of the Winter sunshine of the Swiss Alps, diplomats
have been for ten days talking political problems with the Turks,
treating them as equals. Massacre and bloodshed seemed far away. But
today a change took place, and a new light was thrown on the situation.
The facts are not new: the world knows the Turks' cruelty and
massacres. But the way their crimes were presented this afternoon came
like a clever stage effect.
As an audience may change from smiles to tears, the diplomats here seem
to have had their souls touched today as Lord Curzon unfolded the
sinister story of the fate of the Greeks in Asia Minor; and today's
events cannot but fail to have an important effect on the final
settlement. In all probability no treaty will be written at this
session, and in two weeks the conference will be adjourned, it is
believed, to meet again in a month or six weeks. In the meanwhile the
Turks will have time to think things over and become more reasonable or
face the consequences.
Today's meeting
was scheduled under the simple heading: "Exchange of Prisoners." The
delegates rolled in luxurious automobiles to the old chateau. They left
it two hours later with solemn faces. Within the ancient walls the
shades of murdered thousands had poured to have their say.
Dr. Nansen Reads His Report.
Dr. Fridtjof Nansen, who had been sent to Anatolia by the League of
Nations, read his report on conditions there and made the radical
recommendation that all Greeks under Turkish sovereignty be got away
quickly to save them from starvation or death by other agencies. It was
immediately apparent that something more than the mere discussion of
the fate of some few thousands of prisoners of war had been staged.
Ismet Pasha arose and said that the Turks were willing to begin the
discussion of means for getting all Greeks out of Turkey and suggested
that the conference proceed at once to take up the subject of
minorities.
Lord Curzon declared that he felt that many thousands of lives were at
stake and said that quick action must be taken. He said that the Turks
had decreed that all Greeks in Anatolia must get out by the last day of
November and added that they had extended the date to December 13.
Immediate steps, Lord Curzon said must be taken to remove the Greeks by
that date.
Ismet Admits Decree of Banishment.
Instead of retreating before Lord Curzon's attack, Ismet agreed that
the Greeks must leave Anatolia and volunteered the statement the Greeks
in Constantinople had better depart also. Lord Curzon protested that
this would mean great economic loss for Turkey. Ex-Premiere Venizelos
declared that if those hundreds of thousands were sent to Greece the
country could not care for them and would have to ask the United States
for aid. When Lord Curzon warned Ismet of danger to the Turks in
Western Thrace, which remains Greek, Ismet coolly replied that it might
be good
idea to trade the Greeks in Turkey for the Turks in Greece.
Lord Curzon then said that he wished to give some statistics in order
that there might be a clear idea what was at stake. He said that
figures from American sources showed that before 1914 there were
1,600,000 Greeks in Anatolia. Between 1914 and 1918 300,000 died, left
the country or otherwise disappeared. Between 1919 and 1922 another
200,00 left Anatolia or disappeared. In September and October of this
year another reduction of 500,000 took place leaving now 500,000 or
600,000 Greeks in Anatolia, most of whom were males between 15 and 60,
to whom the Turks had refused permission to leave.
A Million Greeks Wiped Out.
"In other words" said the British Foreign Minister "a million Greeks have been killed, deported or have died."
Lord Curzon said that there had been 300,000 Greeks in Constantipole,
most of whom were still there, 320,000 Greeks in Eastern Thrace, some
of whose families had been there for a thousand years and more, all had
fled before the dread of the Turks, leaving desert areas behind them.
Turning to the issue of the prisoners of war, Lord Curzon said that the
Greeks held 10,000 Turkish soldiers and about 3,800 Turkish civilians.
The Turks hold about 30,000 Greek soldiers. He further pointed out that
there were in Greece proper, in the Greek islands and Western Thrace
480,000 Moslems. He further mentioned 120,000 Greeks who have been
deported by the Turks into inner Anatolia. He recommended that
immediate steps be taken to solve the tragic problem.
Ismet demanded that the Greeks free at once the Turkish civilians whom
they held, whom he called hostages. He said that some of Lord Curzon's
figures were too high, but he did not deny that the Turks had decreed
that all Greeks must leave their territory. The outcome of the
discussion was the appointment of a subcommittee to consider means for
getting the Greeks out of Turkish territory.
This story of the fate of 2,000,000 Greeks who were in Turkey takes no
account of the wiping out of an almost equal number of Armenians of whom
the Turks wished to be rid. After the massacres of war times only about
300,000 Armenians remain in Turkey. There is almost an equal number in
Constantinople and Thrace. They must go somewhere else or be killed, in
all probability.
The Turks have been invited by the Allies to become members of the
League of Nations. They have replied that they will join when their
friends, the Reds of Moscow, are admitted.
Recess From About December 15 Planned.
Facing a situation which seems almost impossible, the leaders of the
Lausanne Conference have about decided to try to arrange a temporary
settlement of the most pressing issues between the Turks and the Greeks
and take a recess from about December 15 until the middle of January or
the first of February. It is reported that meanwhile Ismet Pasha will
go to Angora to explain the allied position on the larger questions.
On the issues of the exchange of prisoners, the protection of
minorities, the capitulations, the customs and the Ottoman debt, the
diplomats believe that an agreement can be reached with the Turks. But
on the issues of the European frontier of Turkey, the future of the
Straits and the Anatolian boundary line, it appears unlikely that as
long as Ismet Pasha sticks to his instructions, any agreement can be
reached.
According to present plans, Ismet will take to Angora the proposals of
the Allies relating to these questions and endeavor to bring back new instructions.
This proposal originated with Ismet Pasha and was tentatively approved
by Lord Curzon, who today communicated the suggestion to the *** ***
*** including the Americans *** *** *** would be taken to allow Ismet
to confer with the Angora Government in person, conversations with the
Turkish delegates reveal another idea, namely, that the Brussels
conference may produce a change in the complexion of the allied
negotiations with the Turks. The Turks feel that the allied unity at
Lausanne which they did not expect, is due to a bargain between England
and France by which England has promised France aid in the solution of
the latter's economic problems, including reparations.
The Turks reason that after the Brussels Conference the French will
either have the fruits of their bargain or will be ready to act against
Germany without British help. In either eventuality they calculate that
France may be ready to stand less firmly by the side of England against
themselves.
It seems scarcely believable
that the Poincare Government could have given the Turks any
encouragement in such hopes, but nevertheless the Turks seem
confidential that they will lose nothing by waiting.
Turks Working With Russians.
On the issue of the Straits the Russians, whose chief delegate, George
Tchitcherin, arrived tonight, are ready to fight to the end the British
claims, whatever they may be. The Turks so far are working closely with
the Russians and are denying the British demands for the
demilitarization of the Straits. Coached by the Russians, they now
refuse to listen to the proposal to have the League of Nations guard
the Straits, although three weeks ago in Paris, Ismet said that the
solution would be acceptable. While the British demand the right to
send their warships through the Straits into the Black Sea, the
Russians demand that the Straits be closed to all warships, as before
the World War.
With respect to the European frontier the Turks demand a bridgehead on
the western side of the Maritsa River, on the ground that it contains
the railroad station of Adrianople. The Allies refuse to allow the
Turks to cross the Maritsa, on the ground that it gives them an
excellent bridgehead for offensive operations in Europe.
The Anatolian frontier issue hinges on the Mosul oil fields, which the
British intend to keep within the borders of the Mesopotamian mandate,
but which the Turks claim for themselves.
On none of these three issues has the slightest progress been made
toward a settlement.
It is true the Turks maintain stoutly that the British have made them
proposals by which the Turks would get sovereignty over the district in
return for an assurance of oil concessions, the British giving
assurances that they could dispose of the French, Italian and American
claims. Lord Curzon himself authorized a denial that any such proposal
has been made.
The basic trouble here is that the Turks present themselves as
conquerors having whipped the Greeks in 1922, while the Allies present
themselves as conquerors, having whipped the Turks in 1918. Ismet
Pasha, leading one side, acts on the basis of the Mudania armistice
which marked the halt of the victorious Turkish troops while Curzon,
leading the other side, acts on the basis of the Mudros armistice,
which marked the halt of the victorious Allied troops. Russian
intervention on the one hand and *** intervention on the other, serve
to muddy the waters with the result of a confusion which is almost
complete.
M. Tchitcherin on his arrival went into a three-hour conference with
Ismet Pasha, head of the Turkish delegation. Tomorrow the Turks will
entertain the Russian delegation at luncheon.
In a statement to the press M. Tchitcherin said:
"Two principles will guide the Russian delegation at the Lausanne
conference.
"One is the principle of self-determination and the other is the need
for peace in the world. The first obviously applies to Turkey as well
as to other nations and, therefore, the Russians will demand an
independent Turkey. As for the second principle, we consider one of the
essential conditions for peace in the Near East is that the Straits
shall be effectively closed to all foreign warships."
Bulgaria Threatens to Fight Greece.
Premier Stambouliwaki of Bulgaria, in an interview tonight, declared
that he had quitted the Balkan League and was going to work with the
Turks. Furthermore, he said if the conference did not give Bulgaria the
port of Dedeaghatch and a corridor to the Aegean, the Bulgars would "go
and get it."
"It is foolish to talk about the Balkan bloc," he said. "There is no
such thing. If this conference does not give us Dedeaghatch as demanded,
we will fight the Greeks for it."
"The Bulgarian Government is in complete accord with Turkey and ready to
support all her claims in return for Turkish support for our demand for
an outlet to the Aegean, which has been promised us and which we mean to
have."
M. Stambouliwaki said that as for the proportion of the Ottoman debt
owed by the parts of Bulgaria won from Turkey. Bulgaria would not pay
one cent.
NEW YORK, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1922
Page 1, Col. 1