FIRM UNDERSTANDING

Waikato Times, Volume 131, Issue 21910, 14 December 1942, Page 3

FIRM UNDERSTANDING

RUSSIA AND TURKEY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, Dec. 12 Relations ibetween Russia and Turkey have reached the firmest understanding, according to the Ankara correspondent of the New York Times, Mr Ray Brock. Fresh unilateral and even bilateral declarations of friendship and non-aggres-sion can be expected in a few weeks. It is learned from the highest foreign diplomatic circles that the Prime Minister of Turkey, M. Saracoglu, discussed the matter at an unprecedented visit to the Soviet Embassy on Wednesday, after which the American Ambassador, Mr Lawrence Steinhardt, told the Foreign Minister, M. Menemencoglu, that the United States' earnestly desired a Russo-Turkish rapprochement. The initiative in these far-reach-ing developments is traceable directly to the White House and the Kremlin. However, Mr Wendell Willkie and Mr Steinhardt are believed to have been the prime movers. Mr Willkie’s visit to Turkey gave the British, the Americans and the Turks themselves a long-sought opportunity to remove the barriers between the Russians and Turks. Mr Willkie is reported to have carried tc the Kremlin a strong reminder from Allied Ambassadors in America, and an unmistakable hint from the White House, that the United'Nations’ bloc is only as strong as the weakest link, and for that reason the existing Turko-Russian relations needed strengthening.