TURKEY’S STEADFASTNESS

Evening Star, Issue 23700, 7 October 1940, Page 3

TURKEY’S STEADFASTNESS

LOYAL TO BRITAIN IN FACE OF GREAT DIFFICULTIES NAZI BLANDISHMENTS REJECTED FINE EXAMPLE TO OTHER COUNTRIES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. ‘ The Times ’ comments editorially on the fine example set by Turkey in calm and steadfastness. It says tew countries hitherto excluded from the scope of war have had more anxieties to face than Turkey. None have emerged from the ordeal with more courage and consistency of purpose. Despite the embarrassments imposed on Turkish policy, both by the enigmatic attitude of Russia and the collapse of France, Turkey had not flinched in loyalty to her engagements or faith in ultimate British vi tory. Turkish opinion and the Press have been notably recalcitrant to the blandishments of Nazi propaganda. A Gorman attempt to exploit Turkey as a jui off ground to tho Middle East once before brought disaster, and the recent intrigues of von Papen snow that these designs still figure largely m C, man diplomacy. Mussolini did little to conceal tho ambitions he inherited from pre-Fascist Italy of JgS l ' anc “ s< ?" inent at Turkey’s expense. In the Balkans Turkish interests coincide with those of Soviet Russia, as well as Biitain, iu resisting extension ot the Axis Powers, and Russia, already angered by tin, oerman assumption of undisputed control of the Danube, has every reason to be content that the keys of the straits should be safe in Turkish hands. Turkey’s alliance with Greece is proof against intimidation, and has been i powerful factor in encouraging Greece in her firm front against Italy’s threats. 1 The Times ’ concludes : “ To-day there is every confidence in Turkey’s capacity to maintain her unshaken role of one of the outposts of freedom and civilisation. Her will to do so svas never in doubt.”

DOLLAR ASSETS

BRITAIN'S AMERICAN RESERVES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 3. So far Britain has dipped only lightly into the reserves and assets convertible into dollars, according to the monthly bulletin of the National City Bank of New York. Only a comparatively small part of £1,250,000,000 of liquid dollar assets and gold held at the beginning of the war had been paid out. The ability of the Empire to finance heavy purchases here has not yet been strained. The most striking fact revealed by an examination of the figures is that the Empire’s output of newlymined gold, amounting to more than £187,000,000 during the first year of war, would more than offset the Empire’s unfavourable balance on merchandise trade in the same period. A reduction of £120,000,000 in the dollar balances and security holdings in the first 10 months of the war was_ probably evidence that the merchandise trade balance substantially understates the British payments made in the United States. Nevertheless, the indications are that gold production has relieved the strain on the available gold reserves and dollar assets to a greater extent than may generally be realised. SOVIET DEFENCES “ MUST BE READY FOR ANY EMERGENCY " MOSCOW, October 5. General Timoshanko, in a message to the graduates of the Military Academy, said: “You are entering the ranks when the flames of a second Imperialistic war are enveloping west and east. The Soviet is outside the orbit of the war, but that does not mean that we are safe from provocations threaten; ig our borders. We must therefore be ready for any emergency.” SWEDISH ALLEGATION AIR MINISTRY'S DENIAL LONDON, October 6. The Swedish Minister in London called at the Foreign Office to protest against the reported dropping of bombs by British aircraft on Swedish territory early last Thursday. The Air Ministry has issued an emphatic denial that any British aircraft were over or near Swedish territory during the period in question. JAPANESE STEAMER HELD UP BY WARSHIP NEW YORK, October 6. Reliable shipping circles declare that the Japanese steamship Hakone Marti, on route to the United States from Lisbon, was ordered by a British warship to halt at Bermuda, where it arrived on September 30. The ship was released on Friday, and is proceeding to Baltimore. There are no details.

WAR SAVINGS CAMPAIGN

GRATIFYING RESPONSE (British Official Wireless.) iRUGBY, October o. Last week a total of £9,923,2(13 was raised in the war savings campaign. The sum of £2,878,553 was received from the sale of savings certificates, £2,139,650 from the sale of defence bonds, and £4,914,000 from tho increase in the balance due to depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank and. Trustee Savings Bank. Since the opening of the campaign a total of £386,791,696 has been raised.