RUSSIAN INFLUENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1943, Page 4

RUSSIAN INFLUENCE

BIG PART IN CONFERENCE. ALLIED BALKAN STRATEGY. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 7. The Exchange Telegraph’s correspondent says he believes Russian influence had a lot to do with the conference, and states :“Turkey, completely linked up with the Allied Balkan strategy, now comes into the global strategy mbre than ever. The question everyone is discussing is: Will Turkey come into the war at this belated stage. People on whom I place the greatest reliance say ‘No’.” The Turkish Press Bureau Chief, I\l. Sarper, was asked at a Press conference whether the presence of the British American and Soviet Ambassadois* with President Inonu meant that Turkey was becoming less neutral. He replied' “You may write anything you like.” He added, after looking round the Press room, “I hope to shake hands with you very soon in Ankara.” The Associated Press says the immediate reaction in Cairo to the latest conference is a belief that a full-scale Allied Balkans campaign has been planned, with the assurance that Turkey will co-operate directly or in some degree facilitate the drive against ■Hitler’s back door.