THE TALKS IN TURKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1943, Page 5

THE TALKS IN TURKEY

"HISTORIC FOOTNOTE TO CASABLANCA"

LONDON, February 1. j "The ancient British-Turkish friendship, which was tragically broken in | the last war, is now fully restored in vitality," said Mr. Churchill at a Press conference in Cairo on his return from Turkey by air. Hurricanes of the Turkish Ai* Force escorted the Prime Minister's plane part of the way. It is remarkable that the Germans did not know Mr. Churchill was visit* ing Turkey, which, the "Daily Mail" diplomatic correspondent says, is a tribute to Turkey's friendship and good faith and also to the efficiency of the security arrangements, because Turkey is infested with German agents. The diplomatic correspondent of ? 4The Times" says that the news of Mr, Churchill's visit adds a historic footnote to the Casablanca meeting. "It is probably no exaggeration to say that the merd fact of Mr. Churchill's meeting on Turkish soil reflects more clearly than anything else could the crucial deterioration of Germany's military position," he comments. "Turkish observers of the vast EuroEean struggle have always shown alance in their appraisement of changes and chances, and the latest reports from Ankara leave no doubt that the view there is that the course of the war has taken a definite turn. Britain's own needs have limited'^ our help to Turkey, but with Britain's production mounting, and the United States' becoming ah1 arsenal of democracy, the supply of arms enabling Turkey to defend .her general defensive security will flow abundantly." UNPRECEDENTED OCCASION. There is no disposition in London to speculate about the implications of the meetings at Adana. The list of the participants is sufficient proof of the wide and weighty character of the discussions. ■ "The news of the visit m many ways was more sensational than the Casablanca meeting, because it must be unprecedented for a British Prime Minister to visit a neutral country during a war," comments the "Daily Mail. "An occasion obviously of the highest importance, the talks clearly went beyond politics." . „» The "Daily Mail" reveals that Mr. Stalin cordially cabled to Mr. Churchill | wishing him success in the talks. \ The Express" Bays: "From I the names of the British advisers, it is clear that our men have the question of the defence of Turkey fully in hand. Mr. Churchill in the last war saw the southern Balkan flank as the most vulnerable part of Germany. In this war it is likely to be at least one point of attack, and for that reason we need Turkish good Will." A news agency message states that Mr. Churchill and his party wore civilian clothes In view of Turkey's neutrality. Almost immediately after their arrival in Turkey Mr. Churchill, with President Inonu and the Foreign Minister, inspected 20 Hurricanes which had just been delivered to Turkey. „„ At the first official meeting Mr. Churchill gave President Inonu an autographed letter from King George and a personal message from President Roosevelt. TALKS IN FRENCH. The conversations, which were marked by informality, were conducted in French almost without the use of interpreters. They took place in a Presidential train, which was drawn up on a specially constructed siding. " After the opening of the meeting separate political and military talks went on all day and during the meals. The final plenary session took place after lunch on the second day, when reports were made by military leaders to President Inonu and Mr. Churchill. Mr. Churchill afterwards took leave of the President at the station and was escorted to Adana airport by M. Saracoglu, the Prime Minister. Mr. Churchill said in an interview that the subjects of the talks in Turkey included "the general world situation." With a smile, he asked the correspondents not to read more into the communique issued after the conference than it said, or to speculate too freely on what he called "mysteries of State."

Referring to North Africa, Mr. Churchill said: "I believe that the army which started from Cairo will take a notewox-thy part in achieving the final result in Tunisia, namely, the ejection of every German and Italian soldier. We must expect considerable fighting in Tunisia in the next few weeks, and perhaps months, but I am confident of the result." He added: "The Russian Army's prodigious feats have removed the threat of invasion of the Middle East from the north. Premier Stalin is a great warrior, whose name will be one of the most honoured and longest-lived in the history of the Russian people."