FEAR OF AXIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 5

FEAR OF AXIS

FELT 1!V THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT PASSAGE OF WAR SUPPLIES TO IRAQ. GRAVE DANGERS PERCEIVED. i By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! LONDON. May 21. Britain Ims directed Turkey’s attention to Ihe passage of firms ami munitions from Syria io Iraq by the AleppoMosul railway across Turkey, says the diplomatic correspondent of "The Tinies. The Turkish Government, which is apparently more fearful than some of its military advisers, believes that intervention would result in the Iraqui rebels preventing the dispatch of arms to Turkey by the Basra-Mosul route, and it does not seem to realise that while the rebellion persists there is no likelihood of the rebels allowing the traffic; moreover, it is most improbable that Germany and Italy would sanction such a concession. The isolation of Turkey is an important part of the Axis plan for conquest of the Near and Middle East, and the less well-armed Turkey is the easier it will be to isolate her. The Russian-German conversations are believed to include the question of an agreement at the expense of Turkey or Iran (Persia) or both. The Ankara correspondent of “The Times" says the Turks would like to see more action in Iraq, but they are fairly confident that the British will be able to prevent a Gorman conquest either of Iraq or Syria provided that there is no unexpected intervention by a third party. This refers to Russia, and the possibility is mentioned that Russia will give German troops a passage through Batum and Iran to Iraq. The Russian-German negotiations will provide a lever for putting pressure on Turkey. The Germans at present are not demanding anything from Turkey except the largest possible extension of mutual trade.

Sixteen Axis merchantmen passed through the Bosphorus toward the Aegean Sea after the defeat of Greece. Their cargoes were suspect, but the Turks have no rights of control. Turkish opinion (states a British Official Wireless message) strongly supports the British action in Iraq, according to responsible quarters in Ankara. The newspaper “Yeni Sabah,” for instance, deplores the fact that Iraq has fallen a victim to the German intrigues. "The Iraquis.” it says, “should recollect that they owe their independence to the British who,,if they had wished, could have remained in occupation and governed the country ns a colony. A writer in Hie "Yeni Sabah” says: "It is Turkey's duty to prevent Germany from establishing herself in Iraq and Syria. If Germany instals troops in Syria, Turkey will be in mortal danger. We shall be forced to intervene. We must maintain contact with our British .allies and keep open the road to the outside world.”

The newspaper "Cumhuriyet” recalls that Britain voluntarily surrendered her mandate over to Iraq and sponsored the latter’s admission to the League of Nations as an independent State, “and consequently it is impossible to suspect the British of designs on Iraqui independence.” Other newspapers emphasise that these events,' which are occurring in her southern zone of security, interest Turkey as much as the Balkans question, and they also attack Vichy's "ignominious role.”