TURKEY’S HOUR OF DECISION.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1941, Page 4

TURKEY’S HOUR OF DECISION.

affairs are shaping in Ihe Balkans, a good deal evidently must depend on Turkish action or inaction. This, as reports stand, is one of the immediate questions awaiting determination, Init a decision by Turkey to remain on the defensive would be hardly consistent with her declared delerminaiion Io defend her independence and would pay poor regard Io her own security. There can be no doubt lhai Turkey is menaced as definitely by I lie German offensive as Greece ami YTigosla via. though il would of course suit the Nazis very well that the ’Purks should adopt an ostrich policy for the moment. It is beyond all question lhal if the Germans reached Sa'oiiika. they would regard lhal achievement as a step towards the conquest of the Turkish Straits. Il has been noted, 100, lhal the German oeeupalion of the Bulgarian Black Sea porl of Varna is definitely a Ihreat Io Turkey. Control of lhal port would be of value Io the Nazis chiefly in providing them with a means of- imposing naval pressure on Turkey, possibly as a preliminary Io troop landings which would outflank' the delenees of the Straits. Nothing is more certain, in anv ease, than Ilia! Tiumey miist stand or I'all with Hie Balkan States now being ;ittaekecl by the Nazis. If Greece and Yugoslavia were overcome, Turkey would have Hie choice of fighting in seriously disadvantageous conditions or submitting to Nazi doiniiialion. 11 seems wtiolly improbable lhal Turkey will pursue anv such suicidal policy and much more likely that site will make eoniinon cause with Britain and tier BaJluin allies in repelling the Nazi offensive. Willi Hie die yel Io be cast, il is perhaps Hie besl indication of coming events lhal Hie Germans an’ reported Io have slalioned a number of divisions along Hie Bulgarian side ol Hie Turkish Il’ l l d I l l • . .. .. „ -