RUSSIA ADMITS DEFEAT

Southland Times, Issue 23953, 20 October 1939, Page 7

RUSSIA ADMITS DEFEAT

Turkish Firmness In Moscow Talks IMPORTANCE OF BLACK SEA ENTRANCE (United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright) (Received October 20, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 19. A Soviet communique and the honours accorded the departure from Moscow of Sarajoglu Bey, Turkish Foreign Minister, confirms Russia’s diplomatic defeat in the talks with Turkey, says the Moscow correspondent of The Times. The communique admits that the discussions produced only confirmation of friendliness between Turkey and Russia and indicates that the Russian leaders are unwilling at present to quarrel with the Power controlling the entrance to the Black Sea. Sarajoglu Bey’s send-off could not have been more elaborate if Turkey and Russia had agreed, instead of differing. The visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister (Sarajoglu Bey) enabled a multifold exchange of Russian and Turkish opinions upon mutual problems, says a Russian communique. The talks were conducted in a cordial atmosphere, confirming the stability of Russian and Turkish relations and the desire of both countries to preserve peace. The two Governments agreed on the desirability of further contact. PROPOSALS UNACCEPTABLE “Although London circles are not yet .fully informed of the circumstances which brought the Russian and Turkish negotiations to an apparent impasse it is evident from the statement of the Turkish Prime Minister (Saydam Bey) that proposals were made which were regarded by the Turkish Government as unacceptable,” said the British Prime Minister (Mr Neville Cahmberlain) in a statement in the House of Commons.

“I noted, however, that the statement of Saydam Bey and the communique from Moscow both referred to the continuance of friendly relations between the two countries.” With reference to the estimate of the causes leading up to the present situation issued by Reuters, it is pointed out in official circles that that account must not necessarily be accepted as being accurate in all its details. The Instanbul correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that the military measures taken by Turkey have been intensified, including the mobilization of lorries and the recruiting of drivers, mechanics and Army reserves, also the dispatch of troops to the Caucasus mountains and the Bulgarian frontier. t 338,000 TONS OF NAZI GOODS SEIZED EFFECTIVE CONTROL BY BRITAIN RUGBY, October 18. Th'e latest detentions by the British Contraband Control brings the total amount of contraband detained during the first six weeks of the war to 338,000 tons. During the week to October 14 the control intercepted and detained 23,000 tons of goods about which there was evidence that they were contraband, destined for Germany. These included 5900 tons of copra, 2000 tons of phosphates, 1800 tons of coffee, 1800 tons of lead and lead concentrates, 1150 tons of steel scrap, 1000 tons of manganese ore, 1200 tons of miscellaneous ores and metals, 1000 tons of rubber, 1000 tons of palm oil, 1000 tons of soya beans oil, 1000 tons of other oils and fats, 1000 tons of cereals, 350 tons of cotton and various quantities of wool and silk fibres, chemicals, tanning materials, hides, skins, foodstuffs, oil, seeds, timber, gums and resins.