Turkey Anxious

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 132, 7 June 1935, Page 5

Turkey Anxious

OVER THE DARDANELLES FORTIFICATION BAN Despite tlic optimistic declarations by tiro statesmen -rrlio took part in the Stresa conference, it covered so wide a range of conflicting interests that many countries are now wondering what will be the flual outcome, writes J. TV. Kornick in the New York Times. Among these is Turkey, and one question that primarily interests her is of course, that of the Dardanelles Strait. The present status of the strait is defined by a special’ convention annexed to the Treaty of Lausanne, which imposes upon Turkey various restrictions; particularly prohibiting permanent fortifications on the seaboard. Turkey’s plea as formulated by her Foreign Minister at Geneva is that when tho Lausanno Treaty was signed tho general belief was that the Lcaguo of Nations would become tho strongest possiblo instition, capable of preventing or solving important international disputes, w r hilo Germany, Hungary and Bulgaria were all that time also bound by treaties imposing military restrictions, which wero to be followed by reductions in armaments.

Turkey asks what is the actual situation to-day. The League, she feels, cannot bo considered, even by its staunchest supporters, as capable of preventing international strife; Germany has repudiated the military restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles; and the Stresa Conference has virtually recognised the re-armament of Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria, Why, therefore, should Turkey alone remain bound by the military restrictions of a peace treaty? Turkey complains that the European Powers, especially Great Britain, which is regarded as responsible for tho opposition to fortification of the strait, consider tho waterway from the naval point of view, as a means of communication betwen tho Mediterranean and' Black Seas, and that they disregard the j strategic peril, it creates in dividing Asiatic and European Turkey, which, unless tho straits were under complete Turkish control, would jeopardise Turkey in time of war.

If Bulgaria re-arms, a.s seems likely, her army may reach .100,000 in time of peaco and, in time of rear, as many as 1,000,000 men could soon bo mobilised. As for Turkey, despite the increase in i railroads, it is so spread out that several weeks would be needed to complete mobilisation and, in case of a war in the Balkans, tho army would have to be transported across water. In these circumstances it is hardly surprising that Turkey has already made provision to closo the Strait, and

experts say she could do so within twenty-four hours, despite the absence of permanent fortifications. Her proposal, therefore, that a situation existing do facto be recognised seems logical, and it is difficult to sec how the Great Powers will justify one treatment for one former enemy country and another for the others. •