TURKISH BREAK WITH GERMANY PREDICTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 5

TURKISH BREAK WITH GERMANY PREDICTED

WITHIN NEXT 24 HOURS Von Papen And Staff Pack Bags In Ankara N.Z. Press Association —Copyright Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 1. All London newspapers to-day predict that Turkey will sever diplomatic relations with Germany within the next 24 hours, but none says that the break in diplomatic relations will mean a Turkish declaration of war on Germany.

Dr. Paul Schmidt, German Foreign Office spokesman, speaking on Berlin radio, said if Turkey broke off relations with Germany the Turkish people would be brought "close to war" with that country. Reuters correspondent in Ankara says vital decisions affecting the future policy of Turkey are likely to be taken at to-day's meeting of the Turkish Republican People's party Parliamentary Group. The meeting is in preparation for tomorrow's session of the National Assembly, at which the Prime Minister, M. Saracoglu, will speak. Blow to Espionage Ring The Ankara correspondent of the New York newspaper P.M. expresses the opinion that the German espionage ring in Turkey will suffer a crippling blow if the German Ambassador, von Papen, is handed his passport. Yon Papen, the correspondent adds, is the brains of the most complex and sinister

espionage and propaganda ring of modern times. He is the absolute boss of the spy set-up with a budget of £320,000 a month. His agents fall over one another in their efforts to buy up rumours and hire tipsters. Bright young men and beautiful women on the iNazi pay-rolls plant rumours, foster anti-Russian sentiment and nurture Turkish nationalism.

Von Papen and the members of his staff in Ankara are busy packing their bags, says the British United Press correspondent in Ankara. Three vans drew up outside the old Czech Legation building! to-day to remove von Papen's precious stock of wines. Von Papen has been installed there since Germany's occupation of Czechoslovakia. He obviously fears that immediately Turkey breaks off relations with Germany she will take over the Czech building. Meanwhile, hundreds of Germans have left Ankara for Bulgaria, and a plane load of members of the German Embassy staff has reached Istanbul from Ankara, presumably en route to Germany. Mr. Churchill May Speak A statement on Turkey may be made by Mr. Churchill when he gives his survey of the war in the House of Commons to-morrow. It is pointed out that this would coincide with the statement the Prime Minister of Turkey, M. Saracoglu, is expected to make. The Germans are showing increased anxiety about the situation in Turkey and their newspapers say Turkey has already decided to sever relations with the Reich. The National Assembly will be asked when it meets to-morrow to give its approval to the decision. r

The Germans say that von Papen jaw M. Saracoglu yesterday in Ankara and that he discussed the current reports that Turkey intends to break off diplomatic and economic relations with Germany.- Von Papen is reported to have warned him that this action might lead to Turkey becoming involved in the war.