Evening star., 1938-07-01

HUNu0CS OJ League OF NdLtOnS etSJCG
par. Plebiscite ptll be held to de.
termine whether Alernndrettn be-
comes independent Moslert state or
Is rejoined to Syria. Turkey's tn
terest arises from the 40 per cent OF
the Sdnjdk's population whtch Is
Turkish.
D the Associated Press.
PARIS. July 1.-The French gov
ernment announced today conclusion
Of treaty Of friendship with Turkey
ending long discord over the strategic
sanjak (district) Of Aexandretta and
= military agreement believed to b
Of far-reaching importance.
The foreign ONCE announced con-
clusion Of negotiations for the fol-
lowing:
A Franco-T Turkish treaty of
friendship.
A military agreement by which
France and Turkey on a basis Of
equality jointly guarantee the in
ternal and external security Of
Alexandretta and by which equal
numbers of French and Turkish
troops will be stationed in Alex
andretta from today.
A six months collaboration be-
tween France. Turkey and Syria
pending the negotiation of
three-power treaty OF friendship
and good neighborliness.
To Be Signed at Ankara.
The announcement said the Franco
Turkish treaty would be signed at
Ankara and the military accord at
Alexandretta, both within 48 hours.
Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet Is
expected to negotiate the three-power
friendship pact during visit to Turkey
in September.
The declaration establishing the six
months collaboration between the
three states can. however, be pre-
longed for . further six months
should the treaty negotiations be de-
layed.
Ohcials refrained from specifying
the exact nature Of the military pro-
visions OF the accord pending sigma
ture. But the negotiators, Mr.. Bonnet
and the suave Turkish Ambassador.
Suad Davaz, were understood to have
agreed that France would recognize
Turkeys neutrality in the event Of
war
In informed quarters there also was
strong belief that the treaty grants
France the right to use the Darda-
nelles, gateway to the Black Sea
which Turkey recently remilitarized,
thus assuring France of a maritime
link with her ally, Soviet Russia.
Hitler Seen Checked.
Coming on the heels of the recent
British financial aid to Turkeys ma
tional defense program, the Franco
Turkish accords seemed to indicate
that London and Paris had forestalled
efforts of Adolf Hitler's expanding
German to grapple Turkey in it,
economic tentacles.
The new accords mean that France
has recognized Turkish interest In the
Sanjak. 10000 square miles in area
and strateeically placed at the head
Of the Eastern Mediterranean, and ha.
agreed to share control temporarily
with Turkey.
After the World War the Sanjak wa,
taken from Turkey and became tn.
northwestern corner of the Syriar
mandate ruled by France. Most of it.
100000 population is concentrated ir
the cities Of Antioche and Alex.
andretta.
Some 40 per cent Of the people arr
Turkish, from which arisesthe Turkish
claim Of interest. which Turkish lead.
ers admittedly hope will develop into
full Turkish sovereignty.
Plebiscite Arranged.
Under the military accord, equa
numbers of French and Turkish troopl
will preserve order, pending a plebiscit,
TO decide whether the Santak shall
become an autonomous Moslem stat,
or shall be rejoined to Syria
M. Bonnet declared that France anc
Turkey could congratulate themselve.
on the happy issue" and that nego.
tiations were carried out in a spirit o.
mutual understanding" to re-establisf
Franco-Turkish friendship "in all it!
depths and strength"