BRITAIN CONFIDENT TURKEY WILL BE LOYAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 48, 26 February 1941, Page 5

BRITAIN CONFIDENT TURKEY WILL BE LOYAL

MR. CHURCHILL SEES THE AMBASSADOR

WIDE INTEREST IN MR. EDEN’S VISIT TO MIDDLE EAST

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 25, 8.40 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 24. The Prime Minister, Mr. Winston Churchill, had a talk with Ihe Turkish Ambassador, Dr. Tewfik Rustu Aras, and expressed British confidence that Turkey will be loyal to her obligation. He also saw the Greek Minister and expressed the utmost ad- * miration of the tight being waged by the Greeks.

Undoubtedly, both the Turkish Ambassador and the Greek Minister were glad to hear some details of Mr. Anthony Eden’s visit to North Africa, because, already, British strategy in the" North Africa area has had repercussions across the Mediterranean and is likely to have more.

Although the Germans are pouring more planes and air force personnel into Italy and pushing on with preparations in Bulgaria and Rumania, throughout the Balkans there is the familiar eleventh-hour hope that the inevitable may not happen and that the policy of neutrality has still some protective value.

The visit of the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. R. A. Eden, to the Middle East, has aroused enormous interest throughout the Balkans and Greece, linking it with the rapidly developing situation which it considers the motive for Signor Benito Mussolini’s appeal to Germany for help. The Germans say they may not advance across Bulgaria because the Greek affair may be liquidated peacefully. All Greek circles, however, demonstrate the country's determination to fight on to the end, whatever the cost. An important part of the immediate military situation is the race for Valona.

Official circles in Sofia (Bulgaria) still express the hope that the Germans may not cross the Danube into Bulgaria, and the Government is convinced that if they do the troops will pass through quickly, leaving Bulgaria outside the realm of military operations. The Germans declare that they have no need of Bulgaria’s assistance, but have carefully prepared a Bulgarian Iron Guard organisation. Additional Quislings can be used when necessary.

Leaders of all opposition parties in Bulgaria except the Fascists have petitioned King Boris insisting that Bulgaria resist German invasion. Members of the staff of the British Institute and other Britons left Sofia to-day and preparations have been made for the Legation to leave immediately the Germans march. The Y’ugoslav Government remains silent, but popular feeling is indicated in Belgrade, where police were forced to clear a cinema, where a British newsreel showing the King and Queen aroused a violent pro-British demonstration. The newsreel has been banned.