FULLY PREPARED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 9

FULLY PREPARED

THE TURKISH ARMY BARRIER TO AGGRESSION BRITAIN’S CONFIDENCE (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph--Copyright) RUGBY, Nov. 5. (Received Nov. 6, at 7.30 p.m.) In the House of Lords, Lord Halifax, making a statement similar to Mr Churchill’s, referred to Turkey. The Foreign Secretary said: “We have been in close consultation with the Turkish Government regarding the situation which has arisen and the attitude of that Government has been stated with great clarity and great resolution by the President in a speech at the opening of the Turkish Parliament. Thanks to the wise foresightedness of the Turkish Government, Turkey constitutes a very solid barrier against aggression and I do not doubt that your lordships are fully aware of the confidence felt in the ability of the Turkish Army to carry out any task that may fall to it. I should like to take this opportunity of endorsing and repeating on the part of his Majesty’s Government the words used by the President when he said that the bonds of alliance which united our two countries are solid and unbreakable. The relations of his Majesty’s Government with the Egyptian Government, I am elad to say, are close and cordial, as is indeed only natural in view of the treaty of alliance which the Egyptian Government is implementing in the letter and the spirit of accord with great goodwill.”

An authoritative warning against paying too much attention to “ good news ” from Greece is issued. It is stated that Italian and German sources are busy cabling throughout the world, quoting Greek circles from Cairo. Athens, Belgrade. Ankara and Salonika, and telling of British landings and actions with the object of causing dismay and disheartening the Greeks if the British aid does not reach the heights pf these rosy messages. It is thb enemy’s intention to provoke denials, causing a blow to Greek morale. The Archbishop of Canterbury addressed the following message to Dr Chrysanthos, Archbishop of Athens and Primate of Greece: “In the name of the Church of England I send to the bishops, clergy and people of your church a message of sympathy and encouragement on the occasion of the unprovoked assault upon your country. I pray that by God’s blessing and with the help of this country the freedom of Greece may be preserved.”