Turkey Expects To Prove Loyalty To Britain Shortly

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1941, Page 5

Turkey Expects To Prove Loyalty To Britain Shortly

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 3. Turkey expects great events soon which will prove her loyalty to Britain, says the Ankara correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Telegraph.” The departure of the German Ambassador (von Papen) for Vienna yesterday is regarded as underlining the German threat to Turkey, despite the official explanation that he is about to undergo an operation. Turkey is believed to be playing for time. The Turks expect a major Russian (couivter-offensive soon and hope it will tie the Germans up sufficiently to cause Hitler to drop the Turkish question. Economic Bribes The economic prizes von Papen dangled before Turkey before leaving suggest that Hitler has not given up hope of forcing Turkey to bend. Von Papen announced that if Turkey dropped the British alliance. Germany would buy her entire tobacco crop, subsidise the erection of factories, guarantee her oil supplies and inaugurate a Turkish-Black Sea shipping service. Italy would grant Yugoslav port facilities and cede a strip of Grecian Thrace. Papen May Not Return The German Ambassador to Turkey (ven Papen), left Istanbul by air yesterday for Vienna. The visit is stated to be for health reasons, but it is expected that his arrival in Vienna will be followed quickly by an interview with Hitler. von Papen was accompanied by his wife, which lends colour to the view expressed in some quarters that he may not return. A German delegation is expected to arrive in Ankara today to begin negotiations for a new trade agreement.