Evening star., 1939-10-29
Turkeys Treaty With Allies
Constitutes a Rich Gamble
Having Spurned Russia, Ankara Knows Its Fate
Hinges Largely on Bugara's Stand
in European Setup
By Constantine Brown

ny ~ OUStuH
The demand that three Russian di-
visions should be stationed at the mouth
OF the Dardanelles, at Canakkale, threw
Turkey into the arms of the allies. This
demand on the part of the Russian die
tator determined the Turks to try fight
ing for their independence rather than
sign 1t off by agreeing to the terms de-
manded by the Russians for the conclu-
sion of a new treaty of friendship and
amity.
Developments began in May when the
Soviet government sent Vice Foreign
Secretary Potemkin on visit to Ankara.
The aristocratic Communist-he is the
direct descendant of the famous Russian
family of Prince Potemkin-called on
the highest in the land and assured them
of Russia's undying friendship for the
Turkish republic. At that time the Turk
ish government was in pourparlers with
Great Britain and France for a substan-
tial loan from Britain. and the cession
Of the Sanjak of Alexandretta from
France in exchange for a pact of amity
between the two western powers and the
Turkish republic. The Turks gave the
Russian representative full information
about what was going on He was less
frank, or possibly less well informed, as
to the possibilities of a German-Soviet
rapprochement which was then already
in the air
After Potemkin's departure, the Turk
iSh Anha dor al Mpcpou
keep the Russian foreign Office informed
of the progress of the conversations be-
tween Turkey and the present allies.
The Russians continued to keep the
Turks in the dark about what they were
planning to do. Their signature of the
Russian German non-aggression pact
was as much surprise to the Ankara
government as it was to the other west
ern powers. The Turkish Ambassador at
Moscow made some mild remonstrances
at the foreign Office, indicating that this
was not actually playing ball with long
and faithful ally Molotoff said that it
was all for the good of peace in the world
and Russia had to keep this agreement
on strictly confidential basis in order
not to deprive it of its full effect for the
cause of peace. The Turks were satisfied
with this explanation, or professed to be.
Ankara Forced to Negotiate.
When the Soviet government decided
to call on the foreign ministers of small
er European states to come to Moscow
to take their orders, the Turks were in
cluded in the list of must invitations.
They tried to get out from under by say
ing that it would not be according to
diplomatic protocol for the Turkish for
sign minister to return the call of an as
slstant foreign minister. The Russian
Ambassador at Ankara replied that while
Molotof was nominally the u S. S. RS
official foreign secretary, Potemkin was
actually the man at the head of the for
eign office. Thus Foreign Secretary Sara
coglu could not resist and went to Mos
COW. He was received with all the honors
due man of his rank. He had to wait
while before he was admitted into the
presence of the hermit of the Kremlin,
because at that time the Russians were
busy making the ministers of the Baltic
states sign on the dotted line treaties Civ
ing up the economic independence of
their countries
Saracoglu is patient man and waited.
He had two conversations with Potemkin
and Molotoff. The humanitarian side of
war was discussed at both meetings The
Russian experts on foreign affairs talked
over with the Turkish representative the
possibility of forming Balkan bloc-or
reviving the old one-for the sake of
localizing the war in the West Here
and there hint was thrown at Saracoglu
that neutrality means really strict neu-
trahty with no soft spot for either of the
belligerents.
The third conversation took place at
the Kremlin. The Turkish foreign min
lister, accompanied by Tovarich Molotoff,
called on Stain. The Russian dictator
is no diplomat in the western meaning of
the word. He calls a spade a spade.
Stain was charming, but he wanted to
know how Turkey would guarantee her
neutrality in regard to the Dardanelles
in view of her present friendly relations
with Britain and France, and especially
In view of the existing pact between Ru-
mania and France. Saracoglu explained
that Turkeys good faith could not be
doubted and that the Dardanelles would
remain Theoretically closed to all war
vessels or military transports. Stain is
reported to have replied that so far as
Russia was concerned the best guarantee
would be the presence of Russian troops
at the entrance of the Dardanelles and
that three Russian divisions be
quartered at and in the neighborhood of
And with this he politely
dismissed the Turkish foreign secretary,
Turk Would Not Accede.
Saracoglu did not have to consult his
government. He informed the Soviet for
eign secretary that such conditions were
not compatible with Turkeys sovereignty
and were not acceptable. Molotoff, who
is man of peace, tried to mollify the
Turkish representative, pointing out that
this would be only temporary measure
and promising that the Russian troops
and war vessels would be withdrawn as
soon as the present conflict was over.
Furthermore, he told Saracoglu that |
Turkey would profit enormously from the
present war because, if Britain decided to |
wage war on Russia for any reason what
soever, Turkey could regain her lost |
provinces in Asia, Palestine, Syria, Iraq
and Transjordania.
Two more talks followed. The Rus
slams remained adamant. Russian troons