TURKEY’S STAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1941, Page 5

TURKEY’S STAND

WILL NOT BE INSTRUMENT OF AGGRESSION ASSURANCE TO BRITISH AMBASSADOR. MEANING OF TREATY WITH NAZIS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! LONDON, June 19. The Ankara correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the Turkish Foreign Minister. M. Saracoghi, received the British Ambassador, Sir Hughe KnatchbiillUiigessen, and gave an assurance of Turkish loyalty. The Ankara newspaper "Ulus,” commenting on the Turkish-German Treaty of Friendship, says: “We are not renewing our friendship with Germany. We are remaining neutral in the complications centring round Turkey. We will not be an instrument of aggression against our ally Britain, nor will Turkey act in any wise incompatible with her friendship toward Germany. “This does not spell a change in our national policy,” the newspaper continues. “We have never been in disagreement with Britain over our policy of preventing the spread of the war to our zone of security. The fact that Turkey is not in disagreement with Germany over defending this policy can only constitute for Britain a feeling of ease concerning the security zone with which she is concerned.” United States Press and radio commentators suggest that the treaty was directed against the Soviet much more than against Britain. It is reported from Ankara that the United States as well as Britain was kept informed of the negotiations. The Moscow radio so far has made no comment on the treaty, though it broadcast the full text.

A British United Press message states that the Turkish Foreign Minister assured the British Ambassador that Turkey would never permit the passage of German troops or war material through her territory.