TURKEY'S PLANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 155, 4 July 1939, Page 11

TURKEY'S PLANS.

Dardanelles Transit In Time Of Conflict. FAVOURABLE TO ALLIES. (Received 1.30 p.m.) PARIS, July 3. M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, conferred with the French Ambassador to Turkey and discussed Turkey's plans to transit warships through the Dardanelles in the event of a naval conflict. It is understood these are completely satisfactory to Britain and France.

PUTTING IN TEETH. Plans To Make Turkey Strong Eastern Power. BRITAIN AND FRANCE HELP. Independent Cable Service. LONDON', June 28. Early proof is beinjr afforded that the mutual aid pacts that Britain and France have with Turkey are having teeth put into them. Linked with the agreements are plans to make .Turkey a formidable naval as well as a military Power. Alexandretta, ceded by France to Turkey this month, is to be made into an important naval and air base. Eventually Alexandretta will be second only to Smyrna in the Turkish defence system. Turkey is being assisted to build a modern "fleet. It will include 17 submarines, 13 destroyers, and two cruisers. Turkey also has two old cruisers and a refitted capital ship—the former German battleship Goeben.

With British capital and French experts, Turkey will build a "Maginot Line" on the north of the Sea of Marmora, covering the Dardanelles from Adrianople to the Bosphorus. These defences will be financed from the British £10,000,000 loan to Turkey. The line will defend Turkey's remaining foothold in Europe, and will ensure a safe passage in wartime for the fleets of Britain and France through the Dardanelles. ITALY AND FRANCE. TRADE TALKS RECOMMENCE. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. A message from Paris reports that trade negotiations between France and Italy have recommenced. The "Daily Telegraph" Paris correspondent says it is understood France is suggesting that Britain and France should guarantee Luxembourg.