Nazi Experts State Officials Ordered To Quit Country

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1940, Page 5

Nazi Experts State Officials Ordered To Quit Country

Big Sabotage Plot Alleged

(Received 2.(10 p.m.) ISTANBUL, February 0. r fHE GOVERNMENT TODAY DISMISSED 100 GERMAN TECHNICIANS EMPLOYED BY THE WAR AND NAVY MINISTRIES. AND GAVE 48 HOURS’ NOTICE TO OFFICIALS OF STATE TO QUIT THE COUNTRY. No German, in future, will be employed in State-owned industries. This will involve a further several hundred.

Sabotage Plot The measure, it is declared, was taken in accordance with the powers voted in the National Assembly to the Government for the protection of national defence. I The Istabul correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain say;, it is reliably stated that the dismissal of the Germans is the outcome of the discovery of a widespread German sabotage plot in the Near East. Fears of War in Spring. Turkish seizure of the Krupp shipyards coincides with the rising feai’S that South-Eastern Europe will be involved in the war in the spring, and also with General Weygand's review of large numbers of British and Indian troops in Egypt. The men dismissed total 20. The marines denied them entry to the yards. A message from Berlin says authorised circles minimise the seizure of the yards, declaring: “Such things happen in Turkey and can usually be settled.” The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press says informed Turkish circles stated that Turkey would reject Germany’s expected protest against the seizure of the shipyards. It is admitted that this would herald a “serious worsening” of relations between Turkey and Germany. “Spring Is Coming” According to reliable sources Turkey will reject the protest which it is understood the Nazi Ambassador (Herr von Papen) has been instructed to make concerning the seizure of the Krupp shipyards .at the Golden Horn. The only explanation forthcoming from Turkish official quarters of the seizure is the cryptic: “Spring is coming.” It is' expected that the seizure of other Germany property will follow. Advisers, Professors To Go It is .also learned that hundreds of German experts employed in Turkey will be discharged and sent to Germany. These include technicians at factories. advisers to the Government, professors in Istanbul University and Ankara Agricultural College. Germans have always been numerous in Turkey. They had almost a monopoly of some businesses until the outbreak of war. The number of dismissals from Krupp’s shipyard is 20. “Inspired By Britain” An apparently inspired article in the Press, referring to the review of troops at Heliopolis by the French Commander (General Weygand) says the Allies have counted the possibility of a Russian attack across the Balkans towards the Dardanelles. The Turkish armies will give adequate support to the defending forces. It is said here that Germany regards the Turkish move as inspired by Britain and France, and another attempt to broaden the conflict. Tension Heightened. Tension in the Balkans has heightened. Turkey has uncovered evidence of a network of Nazi agents ready to perpetrate explosions and train wrecks at a signal from Berlin. It is impossible to allow Germans to remain at strategic positions. It is alleged that German agents caused an explosion in the . steamer Tintern Abbey on January 30. The spokesman for the Istanbul Governor, however, denied that Germans were ordered to leave Turkey. Turkey regards the affair as a trade matter between the Krupp shipyard and the Turkish Government. The German view is that the technicians were not dismissed, but were forced to seek work, because of lack of materials from Germany. Agreement With Italy. Meanwhile, Italo-Turkish trade negotiations have been successfully concluded.

Some foreign observers see significance in the agreement, as paving the way fpr Italian action in the event of a Russian move in the Balkans. Informed circles in Rome say that Italy's policy remains unchanged, and she will support every effort to maintain peace in South-Eastern Europe. Tho Rumanian Cabinet approved the decisions of the Balkan Entente, the Foreign Minister (M. Gafencu) emphasising the solidarity of member States.