ALLIES’ AIMS IN BALKANS

Southland Times, Issue 23921, 13 September 1939, Page 7

ALLIES’ AIMS IN BALKANS

DIPLOMATIC BATTLE FOR NEUTRALITY TURKEY PLAYS LEADING PART (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 12, 8.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September IL' Allied diplomacy is fighting to keep the neutral States of South-east Europe strong and independent, says the London correspondent of The New York Times. A diplomatic battle has been going on since the declaration of war. It aims at the creation of a bloc of neutral Powers, from the Carpathians to the Eastern Mediterranean and from the Black Sea to the Adriatic. The Turkish Ambassador to London is one of the chief strategists. The British acknowledge that one _ of the keys to peace in the Balkans is to strengthen Turkish diplomacy. There is confidence that Turkey will act skilfully and may serve Britain better at present by keeping the Balkans neutral than by allowing them to be involved, which would require a heavy outlay of British money, man-power and support. Each Balkan country has raw materials and strategic positions that Germany covets. It may be better to let the materials go to Germany in driblets than to risk their entire loss by invasion. The Turks believe that all the southeast can keep neutral, becoming a rampart against new German attempts to dominate Europe. On this basis Turkey is fighting a diplomatic battle, and Britair is encouraging her.