Full Text of Allied Assurances

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 5

Full Text of Allied Assurances

(British Official Wireless.) Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 12. It is announced that on August 10 the British and Soviet Ambassadors called on the Turkish Foreign Office in Ankara and that each presented declarations couched in identical terms.

The British is: “The British Government confirms its fidelity to the Montreaux Convention and assures the Turkish Government they have no aggressive intentions or claims whatever with regard to the Btraits and that the British Government, also the •Soviet Government, is prepared scrupulously to observe tho territorial integrity of the Turkish Republic. While fully appreciating the desire of the Turkish Government not to be involved in war, the British Government, also the Boviet Government, would nevertheless be prepared to lender Turkey every help and assistance in the event of her being attacked by any European Power. ’’

Before presenting the written declarations, each Ambassador explained orally the views of his Government, and the British Ambassador stated: “la view of anti-Russian propaganda by the [ Germans, the British Government and Boviet Government have considered it right to reaffirm categorically their attitude towards Turkey iu order that the Turkish Government may be under no delusion iu the formation of its own policies towards Britain and the Boviet Union."

The Soviet Ambassador slated: “As late as March, 1941—that is, during the period of the well-known treaty relations between the Soviet and Germany —the Soviet Government exchanged assurances with the Government of the Turkish Republic iu connection with reports then being spread to the effect that, if Turkey were compelled to enter the war, the Soviet Union would take advantage of Turkey 'h difficulties to attack her.

“It will be recalled that the Soviet Government for their part considered it necessary at that time to declare that such reports in no way corresponded to the attitude of the Boviet Union and that, if Turkey were in fact attacked and compelled to enter the war for the defence of her territory, she could count on the full understanding and neutrality of the Soviet Union on the basis of tho Non-aggression Pact between the two countries.

“It is known that after the treacherous attack of Nazi Germany on tho Boviet Union the Germans conducted and are still conducting malicious propaganda against the Soviet Union intended inter alia to bring about discord between the Soviet Union and Turkey. In view of the fact that the propaganda, which is being intensively conducted by the German Government, has become even stronger at present, and considering that in the present international situation it is opportune that an exchange of viewj should take place between the Soviet Government and the Turkish Government on the subject of the relations between the Soviet Union, Turkey and Britain, the Boviet Government instructed me to make this declaration." These declarations were warmly received.