SINCERE WELCOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1941, Page 5

SINCERE WELCOME

CONFIDENCE IN BRITAIN OVATIONS EVERYWHERE. KEEN INTEREST IN ENGLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 28. Mr Eden and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Sir John Dill, held the main talks of the day with General Inonu and also the Premier, Dr. Saydam, the Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu, and the Chief of Staff, General Chakmak. The Turkish newspaper “Ulus” says that from the moment they set foot on' Turkish soil the visitors saw that the sincere reception accorded them surpassed all ceremonial and officialism. It had assumed the character of a free manifestation of the confidence which the Turkish nation felt toward the British Commonwealth.

The public of Britain is following with keen interest the progress of the visit and accounts of the spontaneous welcome everywhere accorded Mr Eden and General Dill have been read with warm appreciation. From Adana to Ankara, a journey of 15 hours Mr. Eden found every platform where his train stopped crowded with people who had come to give him an ovation. The climax came at Ankara, where Mr Eden received a display of enthusiasm such as the undemonstrative Turks seldom permit themselves. Mr Eden and General Dill will leave tomorrow for Athens. It is clear that the talks could not have been initiated at a more opportune moment, when both in the Balkans and in North Africa the Germans are moving to attempt to retrieve the Italian disasters. The imminent threat to Turkey and Greece —the most serious either country has had to face —forms a background to the diplomatic and military conferences at Ankara and Athens. Effective Allied co-operation is still Hitler’s greatest anxiety, and is one essential factor in the upset of his plans. TURKISH VIEWPOINT ONLY ONE QUESTION OPEN. DEALING WITH NAZI DESCENT ON SALONIKA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received Th'is Day, 10.5 a.m.) RUGBY, February 28. Press reports from Ankara state that from the Turkish , viewpoint there is only one question for discussion by British and Turkish statesmen, which is how best the Allies can meet the German descent upon Salonika.

“FRIENDLY INVASION”

REPORTED NAZI ADMISSION. DANGERS FACING BELGRADE. LONDON, February 27. It is reported in Genevea that a Wilhelmstrasse spokesman admitted that a “friendly invasion” of Bulgaria had begun but denied that it was a “conquering"’ invasion. The status of the German soldiers in Bulgaria, he said, was comparable to those in Italy and Rumania. It is further reported from Sofia that the British Minister, Mr. Rendel, in his statement said, “adequate causes for breaking off relations almost exist already. The Bulgarian police are largely under German control and the Press is completely so, while the army is also largely in German hands at least at the top.” Mr. Rendel re-emphasised that Britain did not want to take the initiative and bring Bulgaria into the war, “But if we go,” he said, “Bulgaria may suffer grave consequences and become a theatre of war. The principle of attacking occupied countries has already been established in western Europe, and I think the same procedure would be followed here.