The Near East

British, French and Italian experts came to an agreement at London on most of the disputed points of the Lausanne Treaty raised by the Turkish counterproposals. It is, therefore, probable that negotiations will be re-opened with the Turks in the near future.

The commission is at present deciding the issues presented by ex- Premier Venizelos, who set forth the views of the Greek Government on indemnities and safeguards for Hellenic subjects. Lieutenant General Sir Charles Harington, Generalissimo of the Allied forces in the Near East, also gave the Allies a survey of the present military and political situation in Turkey.

There are three main concessions to which the Allies will not agree:

1) They will not consent to detaching the financial and economic clauses from the Treaty.

2) They will insist on adequate safeguards for foreigners in Turkey.

3) They will insist that the Turks give up all claim to the Island of Castelloriza, at present under the sovereignty of Italy.

The Allies are in perfect accord with one another, but are keeping their weather-eye skinned for signs of Turkish double dealing. Possibly they have in mind the Treaty of London, May 30, 1913, in which Turkey- in-Europe was driven east of a line drawn from Enos (on the Aegean Sea) to Midia (on the Black Sea). When a commission of the Powers arrived to delimit the boundary, the Turks said: " Ah! We agreed to a line between Enos and Midia, but a curved line to take in Adrianople! " And they won their point!