Turkey’s President Seriously Ill

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1938, Page 5

Turkey’s President Seriously 11l

LONDON, August 8. Seven doctors are attending Kemal Ataturk, President of Turkey, who has been hovering between life and death for a week, on board his private yacht off Istanbul, says the “Daily Herald.” The news that Kemal is suffering from a grave liver complaint has been kept from the Turkish people, who have

merely been advised that he has slightly improved after a serious chill. The President’s condition wfcs so serious on Thursday that the Cabinet was summoned to consider the nomination of .a temporary President, but no decision was reached. A later message from Istanbul says Kemal Ataturk is recovering.

When Mustapha Kemal rose to power after the Great War, he set about one of the most difficult tasks facing a land of modernity second to none in the world. Mustapha Kemal identified himself on the battlefield, particularly during .the 1914-18 conflict, in which he took a decisive part. After the war, he assumed charge of his country’s affairs, and, with remarkable success, transformed his native land into a progressive industrial State, adapted l to all modern customs and practices. Some weeks ago, Kemal Ataturk featured in important AngloTurkish armament agreements, the success or failure of which will depend very hiuch on the' Ataturk’s recovery from his present illness.