STILL A DEADLOCK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1939, Page 9

STILL A DEADLOCK

RUSSIA AND TURKEY

REFUSAL OF SOVIET DEMANDS

TURKS' ATTITUDE

WILL JOIN ALLIES IF ITALY JOINS GERMANY

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received October 17, noon.)

LONDON, October 16,

The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that deadlock is reported in the Russo-Turkish negotiations, owing to the refusal by the Turkish Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu, of the Russian demands for recognition of the partition of Poland, the formation of a neutral Balkan bloc under v Russo-German sponsorship, and the partition of Rumania between Russia and Bulgaria. M. Saracoglu insisted on Turkish neutrality if England and France had to fight Russia. He declared that Turkey would join the Allies if Italy went to war in support of Germany, and added that Turkey could mobilise ,2,000,000 men.

The correspondent states that the Red Army concentrations in the Caucasus (which the Russians deny) would not only threaten Turkey, but also the Irak oilfields, one of Britain's main sources of supply.

Turkey is preparing for anti-air-craft exercises in the Dardanelles, following the transfer of her fleet from the Sea of Marmora to the Dardanelles, Rumanian troops were withdrawn from the Hungarian frontier and are moving towards the Russian border. Four spies were sentenced to five years' imprisonment near Ismir for seeking details of the Dardanelles defences.

The Rome Radio reports that Russia assured the Turkish Foreign Minister that she has no aggressive intentions against Rumania.