TURKEY’S ATTITUDE TO RUMANIAN SITUATION

Southland Times, Issue 24260, 18 October 1940, Page 5

TURKEY’S ATTITUDE TO RUMANIAN SITUATION

CONSIDERATION BY CABINET

united Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, October 16.

The Turkish Cabinet is believed to have discussed Turkey’s attitude to the Rumanian situation. The President of Turkey, Ismet Inonu, received the new Soviet Ambassador, M. Vinogradov, in Ankara. Present at the interview was Marshal Fevzi Tchakmak, Commander-in-Chief of the Turkish Forces.

The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says that the Foreign Office spokesman stated that he had no knowledge of negotiations between Turkey and the Soviet for a mutual assistance pact.

The Sofia correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that Mr G. W. Rendel, Minister to Bulgaria, has gone to Istanbul to confer with Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, British Ambassador in Turkey. The conference is considered to be closely identified with the future of Turkish-Soviet relations, in which Turkey will still carry the British guarantee. King Boris, of Bulgaria, yesterday gave an audience to Mr Rendel, who twice conferred with Professor Bogdan Filoff, the Foreign Minister. Evidence is accumulating that the Bulgarians are impressed by the Soviet manoeuvres and are trying to maintain a policy of peaceful neutrality against reported Axis pressure. AXIS SYMPATHIZER The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that M. Bagrianoff, Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, arrived from Germany and had a friendly conversation with Count Galeazzo Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister. M. Bagrianoff is considered one of Bulgaria’s leading Axis sympathizers.

The Osservatore Romano declares that parliamentary circles in Sofia are discussing imminent Cabinet crises which are expected to occur when M. Bagrianoff returns. A high official of the Soviet Legation in Bucharest says the report that 12 Soviet divisions are on the Rumanian frontier is unfounded.

A message from Berlin states that authorized sources flatly insist that Russia received intimation of the dis-

patch of German troops to Rumania. It is claimed that the Tass Agency’s statement on October 15 denying that Russia received advance advice of the proposed German move into Rumania referred to an article in a Danish newspaper and did not apply to the concrete fact whether or not Russia was informed. SOVIET OCCUPATION DENIED Russian and Rumanian officials firmly deny that Soviet troops have occupied the delta of the Danube. They admit that a thrust across the Danube would mean hostilities. Recent troop movements on the Bessarabian frontier are probably due to endeavours to complete the defences of the frontier before the heavy snows. Other messages report that the Soviet and Turkey have discussed mutual support in the event of an attack on the Dardanelles and that the Soviet Army newspaper Red Star had warned the Russian troops that they must remain constantly mobilized and prepared because of the tense international situation.

Another London message says that crack Soviet units, including motorized troops and planes, have replaced the original Russian forces occupying Bessarabia. The Germans are entrenched on the western bank of the River Pruth.

The German News Agency says that there is no foundation for the reports that German troops are in Bulgaria. Three hundred refugees, including Britons, who are said to have been through hell at the hands of the Iron Guard, have arrived at Constanza. A shipload of Turks is expected today and the remainder of the British colony tomorrow.