ARMS FOR IRAQ

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1941, Page 7

ARMS FOR IRAQ

PASSAGE THROUGH TURKEY ' BRITISH GOVT.’S PROTEST [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, May 21. Britain has directed Turkey’s attention to the passage of arms and munitions from Syria to Iraq by the Alep-po-Mosul railway across Turkey, says the diplomatic correspondent of “The The Turkish Government, he adds, apparently more fearful than some of its military advisers, believes that intervention would result in the Iraqi rebels preventing the dispatch of arms to Turkey by the Basra-Mosul route, and it does not seem to realise that while the rebellion persists, there is no likelihood of the rebels allowing the traffic, and it is most improbable that Germany and Italy would sanction such a concession. The isolation of Turkey is an important part of the Axis plan for the conquest of the Near and Middle East, and the less well armed Turkey is, the easier it will be to isolate her. The Russian-German conversations are believed to include an agreement at the expense of Turkey or Iran, or both. The correspondent of “The Times’’ says the Turks would like to see more action in Iraq, but they are fairly confident that the British will be able to prevent a German conquest of either Iraq or Syria, provided there is not an unexpected intervention by a third party. This refers to Russia. The possibility is mentioned that Russia may give Gorman troops passage through Batum and Iran to Iraq. The Russian-German negotiations provide a lever for pressure on Turkey. The Germans are at present not demanding anything from Turkey, except the largest possible extension of mutual trade. Sixteen Axis merchantmen have passed westward through the Bosporus since the defeat of Greece. The cargoes are suspect, but the Turks have no rights of control.

PRESS COMMENTS.

RUGBY, May 22

Turkish opinion strongly supports the British action in Iraq, according to responsible quarters in Ankara. The newspaper “Yeni Saba,” for instance, deplores the fact that Iraq has fallen, a victim to German intrigues. “The Iraqis,” it says, “should recollect that they owe their independence to the British, who, if they wished, could have remained in occupation and government of the country as a colony.” The newspaper “Cumhuriyet” recalls that Britain had voluntarily surrendered her mandate over to Iraq, and sponsored the latter’s admission to the League of Nations as an independent State. “Consequently it is impossible to suspect the British of designs on Iraqi independence.” Other newspapers emphasise that these events occurring in her southern zone of security interest Turkey as much as the Balkans question.

TURKEY AND SYRIA. LONDON, May 22. Latest news from Syria, indicated the position was substantially unchanged, says “The Times’s’ Ankaia correspondent. French military material and ammunition are still reaching Iraq by railway. Some German officers are reported to have arrived to organise this traffic. German aircraft were flown to Iraq across Syria. The passengers consisted of German officers and instructors. Shipping circles at Istanbul are talking of Germans attempting to charter Russian steamers to convey German arms and ammunition to Turkish ports, wherefrom they are intended to send cargoes to Iraq by rail. In view of Turkish feelings about the situation in the Middle East, it is difficult to imagine that Turkey is giving the Germans any transport facilities, which she is not bound to give under the Convention, as in the case of the railway traffic between Syria and Iraq. Expectations that the Germans would not long be content with transit facilities to Syria are speedily being realised. Already there are indications the I Germans are using aerodromes at Damascus, Rayak, Palmyra, and Aleppo as bases for operations against the British in Iraq. The Turks expect this development to compel the British soon to send land forces against Syria. Turkish security is not regarded as threatened while the Germans confine activities to aerial hostilities with the British in Syria, but a section of opinion represented by the eminent publicist Yaltchin, strongly holds the view that a full scale German military occupation of Syria and Iraq would mean death to Turkey by asphyxiation. It is understood that German garrisons at Mytilene and Chios are now 6000 and 2000 respectively. IRAQI CLAIM (Recd. May 23, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. An Iraqi communique states: A fierce battle is still in progress at Habbaniyah.