TURKEY’S AIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 7

TURKEY’S AIMS

THE STATUS QUO BALKAN FUTURE BLACK SEA ZONE MEDITERRANEAN CLAIMS TALKS IN MOSCOW NAZI—SOVIET PROBLEMS (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Oct. 2, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30.

The Ankara correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says it is reliably stated that Turkey has notified Britain and France that the mutual-nssistartce obligations will be automatically cancelled in event of the Allies being involved in war with Russia.

Other messages from Ankara quote statements made in Turkish diplomatic circles that the texts of the British-Turkish and Freneh-Turkish mutual-assistance and economic pacts have been finally agreed on and will be signed immediately after the return of the Turkish Foreign Minister, Sarajoglu Bey, from Moscow.

A Turkish military mission is already en route to England. It is insisted that the new Turkish-Russian pact, which Sarajoglu Bey lias been negotiating in no way impairs Turkey’s pledges to Britain and France. It is expected that the Turkish-Rus-sian pact will be one of mutual solidarity and will probably contain no reference to anything but purely Turkish-Russian questions.

It is emphasised that Turkey’s agreements with Britain, France and Russia all aim at maintaining the status quo in the Balkans and Black Sea and the security of the Mediterranean. Position of Dardanelles A message from Rortie says that a radio broadcast reports that Turkey and Russia have come to an agreement to close the Dandanelles to all belligerents.

The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. G. E. R. Gedye, says that the purpose of the Turkish Foreign Minister's invitation to British and French Ambassadors and Charge d’Affaires to confer with him might have been to inform Britain and France that Turkey was obliged to agree to the Soviet proposals, but all the evidence points to the opposite. “The whole course of the events connected with the Turkish Minister’s visit contradicts the theory that Rus-sian-German accord is perfect, and confirms the theory that the reason why the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, went to Moscow lay in an attempt to veto Russian schemes ip Central Europe and the Balkans,” says the jeonrespondent. “The theory that there is real Rus-sian-German accord is daily more difficult tc maintain, despite the high sounding treaties and banquets. Empty Promises

“One or other, if not both, of the Soviet promises to Germany, is empty. If the Soviet makes a military alliance with Germany and goes to war against the Allies, she is thereby prohibited from supplying materials because of her own needs and transport difficulties. The Russian-Turkish difficulties can only be conjectured. "Certainly Russia is endeavouring to neutralise the Dardanelles, but it is uncertain what Russia has offered Turkey for this. Possibly, the Soviet is prepared to guarantee the security of the Balkans, provided she is allowed to retake Bessarabia, to which racial claims can be advanced. “Herr von Ribbentrop may have objected to the plan or added demands on behalf of Germany, alarming the Turks more than the original proposition. Turkey’s fear of an increase of Russian and German influence in the Black Sea and the Balkans may permanently affect her relations with both Powers, The invitation to Britain and France suggests that Turkey and the Balkan bloc may be prepared to resist the proposals." Unreality of Accord

Continuing, Mr. Gedye says: "An equally useful indication of the unreality of the Russian-German accord is seen in the care taken by the Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, that Estonia should be surrendered before he received Herr von Ribbentrop, who was confronted with a fait accompli. “The anxieties of Latvia are at present allayed owing to the fact that there are no demands from the Soviet, no allegations of mystery submarines off the Latvian coast and no criticisms in the Soviet press of Latvian economic conditions, such as are appearing about Finland. The Latvians construe the clause in the Estonian pact, referring to defence against a great Power attacking across Latvia as a reinsurance against Germany.”