GERMAN INTRIGUE IN TURKEY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20986, 13 December 1939, Page 8

GERMAN INTRIGUE IN TURKEY

Germany’s professional trouble-maker, Herr von Papen, is still working on the assumption that Turkey may be used as a tool by Germany to counter the Allied cause. His journeyings between Berlin and Ankara, the reports he has caused to be broadcast from Berlin and his attempts to embroil Turkey with Russia have at last apparently exhausted Turkey’s patience and led to demands by the Press to desist or “get out.” Now a Copenhagen correspondent says it is reported from Berlin that Turkey is demanding the recall of von Papen from his position as Ambassador to Turkey. Few of Germany’s prominent men have a more sinister record than this man who is now employed by Hitler wherever diplomatic intrigue of the most ruthless character is required. Von Papen has been deeply involved in almost all of the notable events of the Hitler regime. He is despised by almost all peoples outside of Germany, and wherever he is posted, there trouble may be expected. Even in the United States, where he was military attache to the German Embassy, he earned expulsion from the country during the Great War for complicity in bomb plots and sabotage. Such training apparently fitted him for his more important tasks in Germany. He was the type that attracted Hitler’s notice when the Nazi cult began to seize power in Germany. Precisely what is in the German mind in attempting to involve Turkey in war with Russia is not clear, for ostensibly Russia is an ally of Germany, and on the face of it, it seems strange that Germany should seek to add to her enemies. Perhaps Germany seeks an excuse for entry into the Balkan area, and perhaps she is confident in the strength of the Soviet to offset any advantage the Allies might have in alliance with Turkey. But still Hitler is playing with fire, because Italy and all the Balkan States are opposed to Russian aggression. The Soviet could scarcely relish facing that array of enemies as well as Finland and Scandinavia in the north and Japan in the Far East. Does Germany hope for the defeat of Russia as well as of the Allies ?