Evening star., 1939-10-15
British Watch Near East Warily
For Power Threat by Russians
Massed Troops Hint of Attack on India; Turkey
Baited by Totalitarian Promises of
Restoration of Empire
By Constantine BrOwn.

tant card in Asia, the conversations be-
tween Turkey and the Soviets are being
followed with keener interest in London
than would appear from the censored
news
Turkey is modern-or, to be more cor.
rect-modernized. It has done away
with the veil, the fez and the hodjas.
1t has adopted western methods and
ways. But fundamentally it remains an
Oriental state. In times of peace Tur-
key is Britain's closest friend. British
credits, British gold and manufactured
products have for decades been prod
ucts in high favor with the Turkish
government. But when it comes to
fighting, as in the last war, Turkey
could be found in the opposite camp
Modern Turkey is the product of
Soviet paternalism Mustapha Kemal
was called brigand by the British and
French high commands in Constanti-
nople soon after the World War. He
headed bunch of guerillas and could
never have achieved the amazing success
which he obtained had it not been for
the Communist government which sup
piled him in the wilds of Anatolia with
money and war material. While the
Greek forces, under the pressure from
London were fighting Kemal's nation
alists, the Russians were encouraging
him with deeds and facts. The present
head of the Turkish government, Ismet
Inonou, then called Ismet Pasha, was
Kemal's chief of staff and most trusted
lieutenant.
AS long as there was relative peace
in Europe, Turkey was delighted to be
in Britain's company. Germany had
little to offer and especially no hard cash
which Turkey needed more than manu-
factured products offered in barter by
the Reich. Now that Russia has be-
come Germany's ally, the sentiments of
the Turkish leaders may shift again. No.
body expects the Turks to say definitely
to the British that the game is up. On
the contrary, it is Turkeys traditional
policy to delay matters until she can
clearly see how the wind is blowing. But
the presence of much dined and wined
Turkish military mission in London has
no more significance than had the pres
ence of French and British military
missions in Moscow last August.
Important Strategically.
Turkey is an important strategic posi-
tion in Eastern Europe In this war
sooner or later she will be required to
take definite position. If she were to
join the allies she would have all the
protection she needs from the allied
fleets, but there is nothing they can do
if she were attacked overland by Russia
Neither could the allies, in case of VIC
tory, offer her more than the fruits Of
the victory of the democratic ideas.
On the other hand, the Russo German
combination is Offering Ismet Inonou at
the present time some tangible profits,
If Turkey decides to side with them. Hit
Ter has proclaimed himself as the chief
executioner of the treaty of Versailles.
The first man to tear postwar treaty
to shreds was Mustapha Kemal, who
killed the treaty of Sevres after he de-
feated the Greek armies-and by i'm
plication the allies-at Smyrna. Hitler
announces now that the injustices of
the treaties signed after the World War
must be done away with.
At the end of the World War, Tur-
key lost Syria to the allies, now a
French mandate; Palestine, British
mandate, and Iraq, an alleged inde-
pendent state under the tutelage of
Great Britain. Furthermore, she re-
linquished all her claims on Egypt, which
was nominally under the sovereignty of
the Turkish sultans.
Promised Old Territories.
The democratic government of the
Turkish republic is now being told that
If the allies are defeated-and it Is up
to Turkey to lend a friendly hand for
this purpose-all these lost territories
could revert to the new republic. Syria,
Palestine and Arabia as far as the
1ranian border can be Turkeys for the
asking. The British and the French
have only unimportant forces in these
inundated territories. The native troops
which the new rulers organized recently
are IN most cases in sympathy with rev
Turkey. They would not fight against
Ismet's forces. A defeat of Britain and
France would mean the restoration Of
the Turkish empire. Furthermore, the
lost provinces which for almost 10 years
have been under the control of the
British and the French have improved
economically. Modern buildings have
sprung up. Factories have been estab-
lished and an important pipeline from
lraq to the Eastern Mediterranean has
just been completed. There is sup-
stantial profit in these territories which
at one time were the most neglected of
the empire.
How long Turkey will be able to re-
sist these tangible proposals depends,
of course, on how the German onslaught
In the West shapes out.
The allies have q dinicult problem
before them. The problem before them
is expanding since Russia's entry on
the scene Of operations. Russia may be
negligible Is . military power, but she
certainly could do much destructive work
around the walls o6 the Br1tiah EnptTe.