CONTROL OF DARDANELLES

Chronicle (Levin), 26 August 1946, Page 5

CONTROL OF DARDANELLES

Received Sundav. 7 p.m. LONDON, August 24. Turkey' 's l'Cply to the .Russian Note 011 1 lie . Montreiix ioiiycti t ion, epiphasiSes that (lie maintenance of seCurity is a L'nited Nhtions ' responsibiiity, says RoulerV Ankara correspondent. The Turkish Xote saiil the best guarantee for seciirity for Hussia, lay not in seekiug a |irivileged position in the Btraits Imt in the restoration of strong relations with a strong Turkey. Turkey believes the sei-urity of eacli nation is better gimranteed bv int ernat ional forces placed at the disposal of l'nited Xations. Kven in the unlikely case of Hussia l'earing tln uttack on the Black Sea from the Mediterranenn through the St ra its, Turkey consiilers tliis would be a case l'or L'nited Xations to which Turkey remains lirmlv atlached. The Russian reproacli of the Montreux 'on vcnt iuii does not corres])ond with preseul conditions and ctumot be accepted by Turkey which asserts before the world and will asserl again whett the time comes, before eouipelent authorities, its good t'aith and higli con sciou.saess of international responsibilities under the Alontreux Convention. Turkey does not intend to put anv olistacle in Ihe way of applications for an international conference of the signalories to the Convention and also the l'nited States. Turkey points ou1 that the applicalion for the revision of the Alontreux Convention must be supported by oue or two parties to the Conventiou and notified to all parties three months before the expiration of the ihe years' period. The reply comments that part of the Russian Xote is deemed to ignore the interests of the other signatory Powers (The Russian Xote said responsibiiity for establishing a regiine for the Straits must lie with Turkey and otliei Black Sea Powers. The defence of the Straite; must jointlv be organised by Turkey and Russia.) The reply said the Russian proposuls amounted to the eliniination of Turkey 's role as the iinking Power holding the balance in the Straits. The reply concluded that if Turkey had beeii in eapable of dOfending by her own rneans, the sovereign rights of the Straits, Turkey would not have eaeaped the fate of her lieighbour during thfe ffiar.