TURKEY KEEPS WATCH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 December 1940, Page 4

TURKEY KEEPS WATCH

A LEADING Turkish journal, the “Yeniasir,” of Istanbul, has made clear Turkey’s attitude towards Hitler’s “new order in Europe,” which, in the Nazi leader’s imagination, is to be a Europe completely dominated by Germany. The German concept of a new order in Europe is a Continent which is entirely subservient to their dictation, a Europe which is willing to be exploited by Nazi masters to any extent for their material benefit. This is well understood by the Turks; indeed it is understood by all the Mohammedan nations which regard Britain and the Empire as the principal bulwark of liberty in the world. When the Turks see the Italians decisively defeated by the Greeks, they realise that behind the Italians are the Germans, who may play a decisive part in restoring Italy’s prestige and influence in the Balkans. With that aspect of the matter the Turks are deeply concerned, as they also are with Britain’s well-defined policy of preserving the rights of small nations, in the Balkans as well as in the rest of Europe. Turkey has made her choice. She has formed an alliance with Great Britain which links her destiny with that of the British Empire, and if Germany were to invade the Bal-

kans to punish the Greeks for defeating the Italians, the Turks, doubtless, would resist the invaders. A recent cablegram said, “Turkey’s determination is to stick to her British alliance, give Greece moral and economic support, and fight if the Germans attempt to aid the Italians by marching through Bulgaria.” If that is a correct summing-up of Turkey’s policy, it will be seen that if the Germans should seek to resuscitate Italian prestige in the Balkans by invading that peninsula, they would further embroil the BalkansAnd it is doubtful whether Hitler is eager to have the Balkans even more disturbed.