Turkey Invokes National Defence Law

Northern Advocate, 21 February 1940, Page 5

Turkey Invokes National Defence Law

(Received 1.30 p.m.) ANKARA, February 20. XHE INVOKING OF THE NATIONAL DEFENCE LAW BY TURKEY CAUSED SURPRISE AND SOME ALARM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT EXPECTED SO SOON. The National Assembly will probably meet immediately to confirm its implementations, but ■Cabinet might not await the Assembly’s approval before applying the law which gives the Government power to “fortify the constitution! of the nation in matters of economy, and national defence.” consequent upon, (1) partial or general mobilisation or, (2) the probability of the nation entering war or war between foreign nations affecting Turkey.

The newspaper “Cumhuriyet, which' is the mouthpiece of the dominant People’s Party, warns its readers that the coming of spring will bring a bitter struggle, but its outcome is already known, one paper says, because democracies are successfully carrying out their task. Co-ordinated Defences The War Council is reported to have discussed co-ordination of the Turkish and Allied forces under General Weygand and Sir Archibald Wavell. A British and French military mission will participate in the Supreme Council. A message from Sofia, Bulgaria, received in Berlin, states that 50 British officers arrived at the Turkish fortified town of Adrianople to assist with the extension of fortifications. Other British artillery and engineering experts are supervising fortifications elsewhere in Turkey this message states: — Threatened An earlier message stated: Turkey has decided to invoke the national defence law authorised by Parliament on January 18. The application of this law is interpreted to mean that Turkey feels she is. or the Allies are, threatened in the Balkans or the Middle East. The law embraces measures for strengthening the defences controlling imports and exports, and industrial reorganisation to enable supplies to be made available for the armed forces. To Inspect Anzacs A message from Jerusalem says that Sir Archibald Wavell arrived by air from Egypt to inspect the Anzacs.