INVASION OF EUROPE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25142, 5 February 1943, Page 5

INVASION OF EUROPE

THRUST THROUGH BALKANS FORECAST

COMMENT ON RECENT TALKS NEW YORK, Feb. 3.

The New York Times interprets the report on the Casablanca meeting, given by President Roosevelt at a press conference, as a broad implication that England and America have reached an agreement in regard to an invasion of the European Continent this year. The paper adds: “The time and place of the invasion have already been selected. Mr Churchill’s visit to Turkey indicates that the Balkan area has been selected for the British and American invasion of Europe. Mr Churchill may have been seeking Turkish permission for unhampered transit through the Dardanelles. This belief is strengthened by the prompt fashion in which the British Ambassador communicated to M. Stalin the results of the conversations between Mr Churchill and President Inonu.” The Istanbul newspaper Yenisabah, declared that the Turks were very pleased with the result of the Adana talks. The Allies promised more armaments for Turkey, but it was-clearly staled that this was to fortify Turkey’s security. The fact that M. Stalin was kept informed of Mr Churchill’s proposals showed that the Russians reaffirmed tneir good intentions, and that the Axis bogy of Russian designs was unfounded.

The Paris radio reported that the German Ambassador at Ankara, Herr von Papen, had been recalled to Berlin to report on his latest talks with the Turkish Prime Minister, Bay Saracoglu.

An Ankara message reports that, denying Axis propaganda that Mr Churchill went to Turkey without giving the Turks time to object, the British Ambassador to Turkey, Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, at a press conference at Ankara, said Mr Churchill requested a meeting outside Turkey with President Inonu or members of the Turkish Government. Turkey replied with a cordial invitation to hold the meeting on Turkish soil at Ankara or anywhere else.

The Axis allegations that Mr Churchill asked the Turks to enter the war and that Turkey refused were nonsense, Sir Hughe added. Turkey remained as free after Adana as before. Russian representatives were not present because the conversations particularly concerned the delivery of armaments to Turkey, in which Britain and America vveie most directly concerned.