TURKEY’S POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25457, 11 February 1944, Page 3

TURKEY’S POLICY

CONSULTATIONS WITH ALLIES SUGGESTION OF DEADLOCK (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 9. “ The consultations which have bee.i proceeding since November between the Allies and Turkey on the subject of establishing definitely Turkey s attitude towards the war appear to nave reached a stage of stagnation, ’ says the Ankara correspondent of The Times. “ In fact, in spite of the reticence observed in official quarters, the impression is gaining ground that the term • deadlock ’ might aptly describe the present position.” There is a baffling apparent discrepancy between the attitude ox Turkish official circles and the trend of Turkish public opinion about tne war, the correspondent states. The former believe that as the crucial period of the war approaches there is an increasing chance that Turkey may be involved, but among the people anti-war feeling has become pronounced. There seem to be serious divergencies between Allied and Turkish political and military circles due to differences in appreciation of the conditions under which Turkey ■should execute her treaty obligations. It should be borne in mind, the correspondent states, that, although the Cairo, London, and Ankara conversations were confined officially to Britain and Turkey, nevertheless Russia and America have also been taking part in them, especially since Cairo, when President Inonu met President Roosevelt and the Russian representatives. There is a difference .of opinion whether granting to the Allies the use of Turkish airfields would result in a combined Bulgarian and German attack against Turkey. The Allies regard this as improbable, but the Turks do not share their optimism. The Allies have also found that the Turkish requests for war material, which were promised by Mr Churchill at Adana, were exaggerated and disproportionate in relation to the Turkish power of absorption—namely, port facilities, means of transport, and technical personnel capable of using modern weapons. In addition, the war position has changed since the Adana meeting.