COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23829, 8 March 1941, Page 11

COMPLETE INDIFFERENCE

TURKEY'S RECEPTION OF HITLERS NOTE REPLY TO BE MADE SHORTLY RUSSIA'S ATTITUDE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION Association — By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 7. The Turkish attitude to the message from Hitler, appears to be one of complete indifference. A reply is expected ; to be made shortly. Both the ‘ Bulgarian and German radios stress the point that Turkey has nothing to fear from. Germany, and that she would benefit from stabilisation in. the A .-broadcast from Ankara' stated that the German message was a long one, with a long preamble dealing with Turkish-German relations during, the past 100 years. The Rome. radio" also stated that Turkey would now have nothing to fear. In a broadcast, the Turkish Prime Minister, Dr Saydam, said that Germany was now Turkey’s neighbour, and the Turks must be more vigilant. -Turkish citizens were now faced with a definite duty—they must all be ready , to bear arms. . . The air raid defences of Istanbul were tested last night. More mines were laid in Turkish waters and all Turkish ships are being placed under a commission which will license ships for foreign voyages. ' The country is calm, but some .British; nationals and also, Jewish refugees from Europe are withdrawing money from the banks. •Russia’s attitude is the chief subject of discussion-. The Turkish newspaper ‘ Ikdam ’ declares that unless Russia has decided on suicide she will not let Germany come nearer to her life-giving arteries. \ The ‘ Red Star,’ the first Russian newspaper to comment on the Bulgarian occupation, says that the German aim is obvious—to neutralise f Turkey. A message from Athens says that the international diplomatic struggle is attracting more attention than the war. The Greeks are entirely defiant of the German military threat and are satisfied with Turkey’s attitude. They emphasise that this is the time for big measures and big risks.