Evening star., 1938-11-19
Gen. |nonu Faces
Difficult Task as
Ataturk Successor
Dictator Was in Midst
Of Modernizetion
When He Died
Bv DEWITT MACKENZIE.

ANkARA, NOV. I9-1uTkey new
president, Gen. Isnet Incnu. is
facing perhaps the most difficult
task of any of the worlds leaders
as he takes over offlte through the
death of Kamal Atatuk.
Ataturk was a genius, tremen-
dous driving force, and withal he
was the idol of the masses.
When the end came he was in the
very midst of his revolutionary mod
ernization of the country-an up
heaval that called for the discarding
of religious, political and social GUS
toms which had existed fd centuries.
Beyond that the International
situation as related to Turkey is
delicate and vastly impdtant. The
great Nazi politico-ecoIomic drive
to the East has reached this country.
Many Turks also look tearfully to-
wards, Italy, feeling thtt Mussolini
may have an idea of onentatlon in
this direction.
Iron Hand Needed.
All in all. the hand tlat takes the
wheel relinquished by .Ataturk, the
lone worker, must be an iron one.
This is particularly necessary since
there are strong political cross cur
rents which have been kept in con-
troll only by often ruthless force.
Turkish politics sometimes have
taken violent trends in the past
and many men have suffered for
revolt against the poWerS that were.
Gen. Ismet Inonu iscredited with
being the strongest man of the coun-
try. This is a designation which
he will have ample opportunity to
substantiate for he will encounter
plenty of opposition il the political
WiseacreS are right.
Pending his demonstration one
can only say that he isquite differ
ent type from his late chief. For
one thing, up to thi. juncture, he
hasn't shown himself inclined to
the ruthlessness of his predecessor
Observers are watching with intense
interest to see how the general will
act If and when he IS called on to
use the strong arm.
InOnu Good Organizer.
Inonu is in his late sos and has
the highest possible reputation both
as regards his private and his pub
lie life. In appearance he is small
and slender and he has an intel
lectual face He is good on organi-
zation and administration.
For years he was Ataturk's closest
associate, if one may employ that
term in connection with a leader
who was one-man government.
The two fought together in the
World War, Inonu being Ataturk' S
chief of staff at Gallipoli, where
Ataturk made big history by pre-
venting the allies from capturing
the vital peninsula
After Ataturk came into power
Inonu was for years his premier
Then in 1887 came a falling out 1t
appears Ataturk felt Inonu was in
terfering too much with the for
mer's foreign policy. In any event,
Ataturk applied bit of the iron
fist and Inonu lost his job.
Inonu Remained uiet.
A lot of people thought Inonu's
career was finished. He remained
a member of the National Assembly
but beyond that he kept very, very
quiet. Some stunned him, fearing
to incur the displeasure of Ataturk
if they were friendly with the ex-
premier.
Then came Ataturk's grave illness
last June. One of the first things
he did was to send for his almost
lifelong associate From that time
until the end Inonu was with his
dying chief frequently.
1t was obvious that they had made
their peace. Gradually the politi-
clans and foreign diplomatic corps
sensed that the mantle of the great
reformer was descending on the
shoulders of Inonu. Now they are
watching to see how well the gar
ment fits.