TURKISH SPLIT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 141, 16 June 1944, Page 5

TURKISH SPLIT

MINISTER RESIGNS Conflict Over Neutrality Attitude N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON. June 15. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr. Numan Menemenjoglu, has resigned. The Prime Minister, Mr. Shukru Sarajoglu, has assumed his duties. Ankara radio stated that Mr. Menemenjoglu resigned after the Turkish Cabinet to-day disapproved of his recent foreign policy. Turkey's potentialities would never have been used against Britain, Russia and America, said Mr. Sarajoglu, in a statement after the resignation of Mr. Menemenjoglu,

says Ankara radio. "Armed German ships won't be allowed to leave the Dardanelles. Henceforth all classes of German ships, including merchantmen, will be subjected to close examination with a view to ascertaining whether they are merchantmen." Mr. Menemenjoglu has generally been regarded as the Turkish Minister who was most intent that Turkish policy should not provoke the danger of German retaliation—a danger which some Turks seem to have exaggerated, says The Times diplomatic correspondent. Mr. Menemenjoglu strongly opposed the Allied requests in recent months to" uphold a policy of strict neutrality. When Turkey lately banned the export of chrome to Germany, the initiative is said to have come direct from the President himself —certainly not from Menemenjoglu.