AXIS JUBILATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1941, Page 5

AXIS JUBILATION

OVER NAZFTURKISH ! TREATY | i ITALIAN AND GERMAN COMMENTS. TALK OF BRIDGE TO PEACE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 9.25 a.m.) LONDON. June 19. The Axis capitals are jubilant over the German-Turkish treaty. The "'Popolo Di Roma” declares: "More than ever Turkey represents the bridge to peace." A "Deutsche Diplomatische" correspondent voices the official German view that Turkey will avoid the mistake she made in the last war of being on the losers’ side. The "Berliner Lokalanzeiger” describes the pact as Britain’s severest defeat for a long time. The “Daily Mail” says that the news of the pact is received regretfully in London but Turkey’s position is understood. She has been unable to complete her rearmament, which originally depended on supplies from France. Britain tried to fill the gap after France’s collapse but it proved impossible to do so. A British Official Wireless message comments that in spite of the wellknown ingenuity with which the Nazis exert pressure on unwilling collaborators. the Turkish Government has effectively reduced the treaty to the bare limits of mutual respect of territory and friendly discussion of questions of common interest. It may safely be assumed that these fall far short of the treaty which the Nazis hoped to impose.

TREATY LIMITS VON PAPEN DISAPPOINTED. ANKARA. June 19. . It is authoritatively stated that Germany and Turkey have signed an agreement enabling Turkey to administer the railway in Greek territory between Bulgaria and Turkey. The service must be resumed shortly. It is understood Turkey’s refusal to sign the treaty unless a clause was included safeguarding the Anglo-Turkish treaty caused a long delay in the negotiations. Finally Berlin urgently instructed von Papen to sign as speedily as possible even if the clause were included. Von Papen's mien after initialling the pact was scarcely that of a successful diplomat pulling off a piece of work which German propaganda could hail as a triumph for the Reich, but rather that of a dissatisfied, disgruntled and tired man fully realising that Turkish policy would remain as formerly—an alliance with Britain and a desire to avoid being forced into war. Leading Turkish circles emphasise that this represents Turkey's historical long-term policy. The French Minister at Sofia, visiting Istanbul for the funeral of the French Ambassador to Turkey, made a statement denying reports that negotiations had occurred for the return of Syria to Turkey.