VON PAPEN’S WILES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1941, Page 6

VON PAPEN’S WILES

ATTEMPTS TO CAJOLE TURKEY TALL TALK ABOUT WAR ’ OUTLOOK. ITALY LEFT OUT OF PICTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, November 15. Germany wants Turkey to remain neutral so that she can act as a mediator when Germany demands an armistice from Britain at the conclusion of the Russian campaign. This statement was made by the Nazi Minister in Turkey, Herr von Papen, in an interview with the Ankara correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph agency.

“The Russian campaign is a difficult struggle, with ups and downs, but Germany will win,” said von Papen. “However, the Reich will be exhausted when the struggle is concluded, and she will demand an armistice. Britain had better accept the armistice when it is offered, because with her territorial gains Germany will be the strongest country on the European Continent and, if forced to fight on, will gather all the resources of the Continent for the struggle. “The war will then continue for several years till the Reich wins.” Von Papen added that Turkey and Spain would be given control of the Mediterranean. He did not mention Italy in that connection. Turkey, he said, would also be allotted a sphere of interest in Syria and Iran. Should the war continue after the demand for an armistice Turkey must co-operate with her mineral and ether resources for the good of the united European effort. Von Papen .admitted that Germany would obtain' only 20 per cent of the Ukraine harvest in 1942. The Russian sabotage, he said, was so complete that it would take several years to get the Donetz coal mines working, and the industries would have to be rebuilt.

“The peoples of Europe will be forced to co-operate with the new order, and they will be starved into submission if they refuse,” he added. “Rebellion will be ruthlessly stamped cut. This process has already begun.” Another message states that German propaganda experts, including a Press delegation, have arrived in Turkey.