LOYAL TO BRITAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23997, 21 June 1941, Page 11

LOYAL TO BRITAIN

TURKISH ASSURANCE

POLICY OF NEUTRALITY j TREATY WITH GERMANY | KVcrl. 7.1 0 p.m.) LONDON. Juno 20 J Ihe Turkish Foreign Minister, M. | Saracoglu, received the British Ain- | liassador, Sir Hughe Knatclibull | Hughessen, and gave him an assurJ ance of Turkish lovaltv, sav.s the ! Auk ara correspondent of the Daily 1 I'elegraph. I The Ankara newspaper Ilus. eomi menting on the Tnrco fJerman | treaty, says: "We, are not, renewing friendship with (lermany: we are remaining neutral in the complications centring around Turkey. "We "ill not he an instrument of aggression against, our ally Britain, nor will Turkey act in any way incompatI ible with friendship to Germany. This j does not spell, a change* in our national policy. We have never been in disagreement with Britain over our |x>!iey of preventing the spread of the war to our zone of .security, and the fact that turkey is not in disagreement with Germany over defending this policy can only constitute for Britain a feeling o; ease concerning the security of the zone with which she is concerned." Turkey's Obstinacy It is understood that Turkey's refusal to sign the treaty unless a clause was included safeguarding her treaty with Britain, caused a long delay in the negotiations. Finally, Berlin urgently instructed von Papen to sign ns speedily as possible, even it the clause were in eluded. Von Papon's mien after ho initialled the pact was scarcely that of a successful diplomat pulling otf a piece of work which German propaganda could hail as a triumph for the Reich, hut rather that, of a dissatisfied, disgruntled anil tired man who fully realised that Turkish policy would remain a,s formerly—alliance with Britain and the desire to avoid being forced into the war. Axis Jubilation The Axis capitals are jubilant over the German-Turkish treaty. 11 Popolo di Roitia declares: ".More than ever Turkey represents a bridge to peace." The Deutsche Diplomatische Korrespondenz voices the official German \ iew, that Turkey will avoid the mistake she made in th 6 last war of being on the loser's side.

The Berliner Lokalanzeiger describes the pact as Britain's severest diplomatic defeat for a long time. According to the Berlin radio General lsmet Inonu, President of Turkey, telegraphed the following message to Hitler: —"On the occasion of the signing of the treaty I wish to say I am particularly happy and satisfied. We have entered an era of mutual trust inspired bv the desire for the perpetual continuance of such a relationship." Hitler replied: "I, too, have a feeling oi the greatest satisfaction." AMERICAN TAXATION HEAVY INCREASES TENTATIVE APPROVAL (Rerd. 5.5 p m.) WASHINGTON", June lit The Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives tentatively approved of taxation increases equalling 2,481,000.000 dollars, virtually doubling individual income taxes, sharply increasing excess profits taxes and levying a special excess profits tax of 10 per cent on war contract profits. COMRADE SAVED AIR-GUNNER'S FEAT SWIM IN LIFE-JACKET (Rerd. 5.5 p.m.) LOXDOX, June 1!> The story of the two air-gunners who stuck to their Sunderland flying-boat, although she was on fire and sinking fast, is already among the annals of gallant deeds performed in the last days of the Battlo of Greece. How the airgunners made their escape has not been told. Both had on a "Mae West," the Royal Air Force life-saving jacket. One could not swim. "Jump in and I will tow you to the shore," the swimmer told his colleague. The non-swinimor jumped in and lay face down on the surface of the water. His companion raced to turn him on his back and then dragged him ashore. Asked why he had not lifted his head above water, the non-swimmer replied: "Well, I thought I was on the bottom and I was waiting to come up." QUESTION ABOUT HESS NO FURTHER STATEMENT LOXDOX, June 20 Questions concerning the presence in Britain oi Rudolf Hess were raised in the House of Commons on the motion for adjournment yesterday. Mr. R. A. Butler, ruder-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who replied to the debate, stated that the matter could not be taken further than the Government had intimated on previous occasions. Mr. Butler said that Hess was a prisoner of war and was treated as such in strict accordance with the rules laid down by international law. If in the future it was decided that a statement could ho usefully made it would be mado, but in this case the Government did not bclievo it had anything to say which would make for the improvement of Britain's war effort, nor did they believe that by saying nothing they would in any way upset the morale of the people. REBUILDING COMMONS LONDON, June 20 Replying to a question in the House ■if Commons relating to the future rebuilding of the Chamber and other parts of the Palace of Westminster, damaged by enemy action, Mr. Churchill said, amidst cheers: "I cannot conceive that anyone would wish to make tho slightest structural alteration in tho House of Commons other than perhaps some improvement in the system of ventilation, or some minor readjustments to the accommodation in the galleries not affecting tho size, shape and character of tho building." AXIS WAR MATERIALS LOXDOX, June 20 Germany and Italy are reported by Berlin to have signed an agreement for the supply of war materials for joint Axis needs for the second half of the current year.