RUSSIA AND TURKEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 9 February 1943, Page 5

RUSSIA AND TURKEY

DINNER AT ANKARA BLOW TO AXIS PRESTIGE London, Feb. 8. Ray Brock, the “New York Times” Ankara correspondent, says Mr Saracoglu, Prime Minister of Turkey, was | the guest of honour at a dinner on Saturday at the Soviet Embassy. It was | attended by the British and American ! Ambassadors. There was the greatest 1 diplomatic activity known for two years, causing a stir in foreign circles and provoking dismay in the Axis camp, completing the wreckage of Axis prestige in Turkey. The dinner and subsequent talks are believed to have put the finishing touches cn the new airtight Turko-Allied understanding reached between Mr Churchill and President Inonu, when according to a badlng Turkish editor Mr Churchill assured the Turks of Russian goodwill plus the Allies intention that Turkey would not be faced by any post-war aggression. Brock added that tireless Allied diplomacy was responsible for the removal of Turko-Russian misunderstandings and fears concerning post-war spheres of interest. Von Papen (German Ambassador) and his Axis colleagues were rudely shocked when they learned in the afternoon of the magnitude of the meeting. They have been frantically attempting to sabotage Russo-Turkish relations.—P.A.