NEW PARTNER SOUGHT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 22, 6 November 1940, Page 5

NEW PARTNER SOUGHT

AXIS AND THE SOVIET. POLICY IN THE NEAR EAST. NEW YORK, November 4. According to the Switzerland correspondent of the “New* York Times,” diplomatic observers see a connection between the return of Herr von Papen from Turkey for a talk with Herr Hitler and a possible agreement among Moscow, Berlin and Rome, on various questions appertaining to the Balkans and the near East, particularly Turkey. The questions to bo discussed will perhaps go beyond a mere division of spoils, and include spheres of influence. The correspondent adds that probably one question will be active Russian collaboration in attaining a “peaceful conquest’’ of the Near East, by confronting any real resistance in that area with a solid - military bloc. Turkey’s firm attitude toward Bulgaria is expected to cause the Axis Powers considerable embarrassment unless Russia is prevailed upon to withdraw the tacit support she is understood to have given Ankara. Such a withdrawal would leave Turkey virtually alone in the Near East, and would also leave the Dardanelles open to relatively easy conquest. After this it would be hut a step to continue the drive toward Syria, Jraq, and the fuel supplies in that area. Some quarters assert that the Soviet Premier (M. Molotov’) is ready to sign on the dotted line, making Russian adherence to the Tripartite Pact against aggression a fact instead of a fancy. Thus would Germany be able to show the remaining British sympathisers in the Near East the futility of resisting her new order for Europe.