TURKISH PRAISE FOR U.S. POLICY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27370, 8 June 1954, Page 11

TURKISH PRAISE FOR U.S. POLICY

Premier’s Visit To Washington

(Rec. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 6. The Turkish Prime Minister (Mr Adrian Menderes) flew home today after warning that the Western world should not base too many hopes on conferences “that may well lead to another Munich.”

Mr Menderes conferred twice with President Eisenhower during his week’s stay in the United States. He also had ‘ conferences with the Scretary, of State (Mr John Foster Dulles) and other United States offi» cials and members of Congress. On leaving for home by air, Mr Menderes handed reporters a 500-word statement saying that his consultations in Washington had been “invaluable.” He said that Turkey was determined to “develop the effectiveness of the Balkan Pact with Greece and Jugoslavia, turning it into a veritable alliance, and to expand the pact between Turkey and Pakistan.” Mr Menderes said that Turkey was convinced of the soundness of United States foreign policy, marked by the “determination to put a stop to aggression at a certain specified point.” “The results of permitting oneself to be inspired by groundless hopes is to embark on a series of conferences that may well lead to another Munich,” he said. It was earlier announced that the United States had agreed to accelerate military aid shipments to Turkey’s 19division army, an important part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence system in the Mediterranean area.

The decision was annqunced in a joint United States-Turkish communique issued at the conclusion of the talks between United States officials and Mr Menderes.

The communique said that the United States would speed up the delivery of about 5*00.000,000 dollars worth df military equipment previously promised to Turkey. The Administration, also agreed, subject to Congressional approval, to in-

crease funds ' earmarked for Turkish military aid during the next financial year beginning June 1. Officials said the proposed increase t would bring next year’s aid programme to a level equal to the peak years of the Turkish aid programme, which has been under way since 1947. Officials explained that the move simply reflected that Turkey had proved its capability of enlarging its army and absorbing military aid more rapidly than American officials had thought possible.