TURKEY AND RUSSIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 295, 15 December 1942, Page 3

TURKEY AND RUSSIA

FIRMEST UNDERSTANDING REPORTED I WHITE HOUSE INFLUENCE ‘ New York, Dec. 11. The New York Times’ Ankara corre- . respondent. Ray Brock, says relations . between Russia and Turkey have now 1 reached the firmest understanding, • and fresh unilateral, even bilateral, • declarations of friendship and non- • aggression can be expected within a • few weeks. It was learned from the highest foreign diplomatic circles that Premier Saragoglu discussed the matter in an unprecedented visit to the Soviet. > Embassy on December 9, after which • the American Ambassador, Mr. Stein--1 hardt, told Foreign Minister Mene- ’ menjoglu that the United States earn- ■ estly desired a Russo-Turkish rapprochement. ' The initiative in these far-reaching 1 developments can be traced directly ■ to the White House and the Kremlin. However Mr. Willkie and Mr. Steinhardt are believed to be the prime movers in the matter. Mr. Willkie’s visit to Turkey gave the British, the Americans and the Turks themselves a long-sought opportunity to remove the barriers between Russia and Turkey. Mr. Willkie is reported to have carried to the Kremlin a strong reminder from Allied Ambassadors here and an unmistakable hint from the White House that the United Nations bloc was only as strong as the weakest link, and that for this reason the existing Turkish-Russian relations needed strengthening.