TRADE TREATY NOT POLITICAL

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 5

TRADE TREATY NOT POLITICAL

The reactions of the Powers in the Near East to the war are being awaited with keen interest. The Prime Minister of Egypt, Ali Maher, stated that Egypt’s attitude was defensive, but if an inch of Egyptian soil were bombed, whether military or not, or if there were any Egyptian casualties, ' Egypt would certainly declare war. From Alexandria it is reported that the Government has ordered the requisitioning of ships for war purposes. A number of Italian vessels has been seized. The Turco-German commercial agreement has been in negotiation for two months. It is stated to have no political character and carries no specific time limit. It is understood that it is likely to be a barter agreement of very limited scope. It provides for the exchange of Turkish produce, particularly tobacco, for German machinery, spare parts and medical products unobtainable in the present circumstances from other countries. Turkey has called up more troops and reserve officers. The officiallycontrolled Turkish Press is violently attacking Italy. Obviously this reflects the Government’s attitude. An earlier Istanbul cable announced that President Ismet Inonu presided over a Council of Ministers which reached important decisions. The Madrid correspondent of The Times (London) says that rising sympathy for Italy and Germany coincides with the Spanish Government’s policy of non-belligerency. There is not a word of comment favourable to the Allies. Arriba, the organ of the Falange,

declares that Spain must stand by the two countries which helped General Franco to win the Civil War. Indian troops in Egypt constitute a formidable force. Every part of the diverse population of India is represented by these fine soldiers with the glorious traditions of the Indian Army behind them. Since their arrival in Egypt in the early days of the war they have established admirable relations with the Egyptian Army and civilian population who followed with interest and admiration the intensive training which the troops have undertaken. The Argentine Consul will not watch Italian interests in Australia because his Government believes this would be incompatible with Argentine neutrality. A Rome message claims that in the centre of the Mediterranean the Italians sank two Allied submarines and seriously damaged another. Italian planes bombed the region of Tunisia and machine-gunned French' planes and also bombed the air base at Fayence. All but one Italian plane returned to their bases. A Rome communique claims that Allied attempts in North Africa against Italian outposts on the Egyptian frontier were repulsed. Italian planes destroyed a number of Allied tanks and bombed Port Sudan and the port airport at Aden wherein the Italians lost two aeroplanes. The communique continues that the Allies attempted to cross the Abyssinian frontier near Moyale, coming from Kenya, but were repulsed. Enemy planes bombed various points in Eritrea and slight damage occurred.