PACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1941, Page 7

PACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Turkey And Germany

MO SURPRISE TO BRITAIN

LONDON, June 18.

gfiT Is officially announced in Berlin that a pact £>t "friendship between Germany and Turkey was iigned in Ankara today. •

The treaty is stated to have been concluded on <|he/basis of mutual trust, respect, and friendship Within the limits of the present commitments of both icountries. Each of the signatories binds itself to respect the integrity and inviolability of the other's national territories and not to resort to any kneasures, direct or indirect, aimed at the other. The parties also bind themselves in future to meet in friendly contact to reach an understanding on ike treatment of any such questions.

• The treaty is to be ratified, and documents of ratification are to be exchanged in Berlin. The treaty comes into force on the day of signature, and is valid for ten years.

•%$t is pointed out in London that Germany has been in a position to exert direct pressure on the Turkish Government, and this is well recognised in London.

Turkey's recognition of her obligations to Britain under the AngloTurkish Treaty is shown by the fact that Turkey kept Whitehall informed op. the various stages of the negotiations with Germany, and the agreement has come as no surprise. The Anglo-Turkish Treaty recognises that Turkey is the best and only judge of her vital interests, and leaves her free to take such decisions as she considers these interests may demand.

It is pointed out that the "present commitments" include Turkey's obli-

gations under the Anglo-British Treaty. It is very much to the credit of the Turks that they have resisted German efforts to break off relations with Britain and to surrender their sovereign rights on Germany's behalf.

The Pact acknowledges the existing commitments of both countries, and this includes, of course, the AngloTurkish treaty.

In a statement to the Press today, the Turkish Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu, said: "Other actual and existing obligations of the two parties are unaffected, and these obligations do not affect the conception of the treaty."

Both Governments have exchanged identical Notes which look forward in the most generous terms to the promotion of their economic relations.