SUPPORT FOR ALLIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 72, 22 February 1940, Page 7

SUPPORT FOR ALLIES

MIDDLE EAST OPINION. EGYPTIAN LOYALTY. FULFILMENT OF THE AT Y. (United Ureas Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right.) Received February 22, 11.25 a.m. LONDON, Feb. 21. A highly placed official said the arrival of' the New Zealanders and Australians in the Middle East had strongly impressed international opinion, firstly, on account of the magnificent quality of the troops and, secondly, because of the smoothness with which their transport and disembarkation had been carried ouL Egypt was doing her utmost to fulfil the letter and spirit of the AngloEgvntian Treaty. The attitude adopted towards the Allies was illustrated at the reception which the British Ambassador (Sir Miles Lampson) gave Mr Eden (Dominions Secretary), at which Government supporters and members of the Opposition, who usually do not talk to each other, mingled freely, unanimously expressing support of the treaty. Berlin political circles admit they are alarmed bv Turkey’s decision to apply the emergency defence law. The speeches of the Turkish Envoy (M. Saiacoglu). at the Balkan Conference, on February 3, somewhat reassured the Nazis, but rumours are now current about Turkey’s warlike designs. • German militarists regard the Allied military and diplomatic activity in the Middle East as a concrete threat to the Russian oilfields, which are considered vital to German interests. Allied attacks on the oilfields would be dangerous both to Russia and Germany while Russians are heavily committed in Finland.