ENEMY BRAG AND CONFESSION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 45, 17 November 1941, Page 7

ENEMY BRAG AND CONFESSION

Future Of The War

DIFFICULT TASK IN RUSSIA Peace Prize For Turks; Italy Ignored (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received November 16, 7 p.m.) LONDON, November 15. Germany wants Turkey to remain neutral so that she can act as a mediator when Germany demands an armistice from Britain at the conclusion of the Russian campaign. This statement was made by the Nazi Minister in Turkey, Herr von Papen, in an interview with the Ankara correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph agency..

“The Russian campaign is a difficult struggle, with ups and downs, but Germany will win,” said von Papen. “However, the Reich will be exhausted wheu the struggle is concluded, and she will demand an armistice. Britain had better accept the armistice when it is offered, because with her territorial gains Germany will be the strongest country on the European Continent and, if forced to fight on, will gather all the resources of the Continent for the struggle. “The war will then continue for several years till the Reich wins.” Bribes in South. Von Papen added that Turkey and Spain would be given control of the Mediterranean. He did not mention Italy in that connexion. Turkey, he said, would also be allotted a sphere of interest in Syria and Iran. Should the war continue after the demand for an armistice Turkey must co-operate with her mineral and other resources for the good of the united European effort.

Von Papen admitted that Germany would obtain only 20 per cent, of the Ukraine harvest in 1942. The Russian sabotage, he said, was so complete that it would take several years to get the Donetz coalmines working, and the industries would have to be rebuilt. “The peoples of Europe will be forced to co-operate with the new order, and they will be starved into submission if they refuse,” he added- “ Rebellion will be ruthlessly stamped out. This process has already begun.”