TURKISH TONE UNALTERED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 137, 6 March 1941, Page 7

TURKISH TONE UNALTERED

Balkan Aggression REPORTED GERMAN ASSURANCE

LONDON, March 4.

Herr Hitler’s message to the Turkish President is reported to have contained an assurance that Germany has no intention of attacking Turkey or the Dardanelles, and desires to look after Turkey’s interests and well-being.

The Turkish Government has asked all industries to report immediately regarding their maximum production and stocks of raw materials. Other defence measures are imminent.

The Turkish- radio said; “The occupation of Bulgaria is a prelude to a similar process in Yugoslavia. Rumania had no sooner joined the Pact than her freedom, independence, and self-respect were lowered to the grave. That is what happens to nations who lack the courage to face the Axis.” Messages from Ankara state that the gravity with which Turkey views the Balkans situation is shown by the fact that she has exercised her rights under the Montreux Convention in deciding to police the Dardanelles. The relevant article in the convention says that Turkey may require vessels to follow a prescribed route through the Straits, with Turkish pilotage, if Turkey considers she is threatened and in imminent danger of war. Though Berlin denies that Herr Von Ribbentrop or any other high German official went to Turkey, a report from Istanbul' says that the courier was an official at the Wilhelmstrasse, Dr. Ms ter er. The Turkish newspaper “Ulus,” in a leader, says that nobody believes that the German occupation of Bui garia will end the war in the Balkans. On the contrary, it removes the only obstacle which prevents British bomb' ing of Rumanian oilfields. The British do not need to declare war on Bulgaria if they want to attack across Bulgaria. They only need to repeat Marshal Graziani’s basis for attacking Egypt.

HITLER DOOMED

Britain’s Increasing Strength

LONDON, March 4.

Reference to the Balkans was made today by Mr. Amery,. Secretary for India, speaking in London. He said that though German tanks and guns were rumbling across Bulgaria, it was only in this country that Hitler could hope to achieve the swift decision without which he was doomed to failure.

“Whatever may be the dangers which confront us today,” said Mr, Amery, “we shall go on to meet them far stronger in numbers, far more powerful in resources and equipment, far better trained, and, above all, with more fully justified confidence in our fighting men and their leaders than seemed possible six months ago.”

DUTCH LOCAL BODIES DISMISSED

LONDON, March 4. A new German decree issued in Holland dismisses all mayors, aldermanic councils, and municipal committees in Amsterdam, Hilversum, and Zaandam. Government commissioners are to replace them.

TRADE WITH BULGARIA

(British Official Wireless.) (Received March 5, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, March 4. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, the Minister of Economic Warfare, Dr. Dalton, said that since Italy entered the war the British Government had authorized the importation into Bulgaria of only two comparatively unimportant consignments of goods. Towmrd the other Balkan countries except Greece the British policy had been, and still was, to let no imports through countries where there was a risk of important goods falling into enemy bands. As far as Greece was concerned, the Minister said, the British Government was doing all it could to meet her requirements, both war and civil.