The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1940 The Diplomatic Offensive

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21817, 21 November 1940, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1940 The Diplomatic Offensive

WHILE the present conflict may not yet he described as a world war in the same sense as the Great War, which brought the greater part of the world into active belligerency, there can lie no doubt that the tremendous issues hanging on the outcome can leave no nation unconcerned and no nation can put aside the possibility of active participation should any new crisis intervene. It is this state of uncertainty and nervousness which imparts such significance to the new outbreak of diplomatic activity being waged by Germany in the Balkans, in Russia and in Spain. Stalemated in the battle for Britain, the Nazis are now turning to what has been gratuitously described by Mussolini as the “genius-like strategy of the Fuhrer.” It was anticipated after the failure in the west that the Nazis would attempt a thrust in the. east through the Balkans, preferably without conflict, with the object of driving the British out of the Eastern Mediterranean. Contiguous to a powerful and ruthless neighbour, the Balkan States are in an unenviable position, and their complaisance to the Nazi overtures may be more expedient than spontaneous. But two states have beeu adamant in their refusal to come under the hegemony the Axis—Greece and Turkey. Greece has carried her opposition to the point of war. Her successes against the Italians have upset the Axis plans, and the recent diplomatic activity may foreshadow an attempt by Hitler to take over the eastern campaign which Mussolini has so badly bungled. Allied to Britain, Turkey is profoundly distrustful of the Axis “new order” and on the economic side has no wish to be drawn into the sphere of predatory neighbours. While Turkey has left no doubt where her sympathies lie, her actions will depend on the unsolved riddle of the attitude of Russia, for the Treaty of Ankara includes an “escape” clause which establishes the right of Turkey to abstain from any action which might involve her in hostilities with the Soviet. Nor has Russia abandoned her traditipnal ambition to control the Dardanelles and the approach to the Black Sea. The spectacle of a Turkey friendly with Russia and friendly with Britain, and forming a possible bridge between two powerful nations, holds for Germany the nightmare prospect of a war on two fronts, and her efforts, which have been intensified recently, have been directed towards driving a wedge between Russia and Turkey. Nor is it impossible that a situation may arise in which Russia, with her physical proximity set against Britain’s Near Eastern striking power, may make good relations with Turkey conditional on the abandonment by Turkey of the British alliance. It is heartening, therefore, to have the cable advice that while “all the Balkan capitals are in a state of extreme anxiety, Turkey alone maintains calm resolution. Apparently she has precise assurances from Moscow.” The march of events points to the next crisis of the war arising in the Balkans and Turkish friendship will be the deciding factor in Great Britain’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean when that time comes.