Evening star., 1941-12-05
We Aid Turkey

| W. NIo UINSy
The announcement from the White
House that aid under the Lease-Lend
Act is being formally extended to
Turkey is another important move
in the economic campaign which the
American Government has long been
Waging against the Axis powers, lit
orally throughout the world. 1t
comes only ten days after a similar
presidential announcement extend
ing lease-lend aid to the Free French
forces of General de Gaulle, and
thereby intensifies our commitments
in the Near East.
An interesting sidelight of the new
Executive order is the disclosure that
Turkey has been getting American
armamentS, munitions, and other
war supplies since last May. This
has been done inconspicuously and
indirectly by transferring them to
the British, who in turn have re-
transferred them to the Turks. In
deed, it appears that those American
supplies have played vital role in
maintaining Turkish neutrality
against German pressure, because
Britain was unable to furnish Turkey
from her own sources, as she had
| agreed to do under the terms of a
| defensive alliance.
Turkeys chief weakness has been
her lack of artillery and mechanical
equipment. History has shown that
the Turks are excellent soldiers, but
this war has abundantly proved that,
without proper arms, the finest man
power is of little use against a mod
ern war machine With much new
British and American equipment al
ready in Turkish hands, and with
more actually on the way from United
States ports. Turkeys strategic posi-
ton has improved rapidly and her
diplomacy is strengthened propor-
tionately.
Since the start of the war, Turkish
|
ments alike have tended to the side
of Britain and her allies. But the
Turks are stern realists, and they
have been unwilling to risk invasion
and possible conquest by the Axis
unless they had a fair chance of
successfully maintaining their inde-
pendence. The German conquest of
the Balkans and the adhesion to the
Axis camp of Bulgaria, a tradition
ally hostile neighbor, left Turkey
| in dangerous situation. Accord
ingly, the Turkish government made
a reinsurance treaty of friend
ship with Germany Just before the
German invasion of Russia Ger
man successes made Turkeys posi-
ton even more precarious, and there
seems to have been a moment when
the Turkish leaders meditated at
least benevolent neutrality.
That moment, however, seems to
have passed with the recent cabinet
shake-up. Our Government presum-
ably felt confident of Turkish in
tentions before its announcement of
a large measure of lease-lend aid.
At least, Washington must feel it is
a good diplomatic investment, and
that none of the supplies sent will
be used on the Axis side.
The most dubious point is whether
this very strengthening of Turkey
and its more decided anti-Axis stand
may induce Germany to strike be-
fore Turkey is fully prepared. The
recent German defeat at RoStov,
closing the gateway to the Caucasus
against a German invasion, at least
for some time to come, leaves Ger
man strategy only one feasible al
tentative to get at Britain and pre-
cious oil supplies in the Near and
| Middle East. This alternative is the
direct road through Turkey to Syria,
I Irak and other lands under British
control Whether Germany has the
strength to undertake so formidable
an effort even against a half armed
Turkey, while the Wehrmacht is still
begged down in Russia, may be
doubted. The question soon may be
settled, however, and if the German
high command plans stroke through
Turkey, the supplies now en- route
or earmarked for Turkey will be
| literally racing against time.
| There are now 3.110 midshinrnen