Evening star., 1941-12-04
Nozi Forces Reported in Rout Roosevelt Sees
Beyond TogonroG Offensive on Congress Chiefs
Moscow S|ockening, Reds Claim Omar East
Turkey, Aided Since
May, Placed on
Leose-Lend List
Bv the Associated Press.

pN nv - >HpAl . 'Ft 1 i'HN
President Roosevelt today followed
his announcements that this country
Is sending leaSe-lend aid to Turkey
with a Commute conference with
congressional leaders thoroughly
canva assin9" the Far Eastern situa-
ton.
House Majority Leader McCor-
mack, who acted a.s spokesman for
the group at the White House. said
the conference centered on matters
in connection with the defense OF
our territories and our vital inter-
eStS.'
Other participants were Vice
President Wallace. Speaker Ray
burn. Senator George. Democrat. Of
Georgia. appearing in the absence
OF Chairman COnnallv Of the Foreign
Rela tions Committee: Senator Hill
Of Alabama. acting as Senate ma
jority leader. and Chairman Bloom
OF the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee
Shortly after Nh Roosevelt's an
nounCement yesterday on Turkish
aid II was revealed that the United
States began furnishing Turkey with
military supplies six months ago so
the Turks could stand by their
pledge TO Britain TO defend Turkey
and the strategic Dardanelles against
anv threat OF AXIS aggression.
The White House statement said
merely: The President announced
that he had found the defense Of
Turkey vital 10 the defense Of the
United States and had directed
Lease-Lend Administrator E R
Stettinius jr.. 10 see that the defense
needs OF the government OF Turkey
were filled as soon as possible
Under present plans. il was dis
closed future lease-lend aid to Tur-
KEY is expected 10 include about
500 900 900 worth Of planes. tanks.
trucks. anti-tank and anti-aircraft
guns. ammunition and other supplies
urgently required by the Turkish
Army.
Supplies Shipped to Britain.
All supply shipments since last
May have been made to Great
Britain which in turn delivered
them to Turkey. and it was learned
that this procedure would prevail on
all future shipments.
Bv this arrangement. il was ex-
planned. Britain will be enabled 70
fulfill her treaty promises of military
supplies in return for Turkeys
pledge not 70 allow any aggressor the
use OF Turkish territory as path
wav for attacks on IraQ, Iran. Pal
estine. Suez. or the vitallv important
Caucasus and Mosul Oil fields.
The United States and Great Brit
ain alone were said authorltatlvely
70 have worked out the Turkish lend
lease agreement. which is expected
TO have far-reaching consequences
in future diplomatic and military
moves in the Near East.
1t was learned that the Turks.
looking to the British for the p, om-
ised arms and munitions, did not ask
the United States for lend-lease aid,
PLAYED no role in the negotiations.
and made no pledges or commit
ments to the American government.
Here are the background facts OF
the agreement that has been hailed
as ma jor diplomatic defeat for the
Axis:
On October l8, 1899. a Nlrko-
British pact was signed. 1t pro-
vided for British grant of f40, 0,000,-
900 approximately Sl60.000. .000 in
credits to Turkey. OF which f25, 5,000.-
900 approximately 100000 O0O was
for purchase of British equipment
to modernize the Turkish army and
bulWark the defenses of the Dardan-
elles, the gateway between the Black
Sea and the Mediterranean
Turkey in return pledged that. Civ
en- the promised equipment. she
would and could defend herself
against any aggressor nations. At
that time Turkey was subjected to
unrelenting Axis pressure to cast her
lot with the Nazi new order, or face
destruction.
Before the British could deliver
the promised military supplies, Brit
ain was bitterly engaged on all
fronts and unable to spare the
planes. tanks and guns the Turks
needed if they were to fulfill their
pledge
Turned to L. 5. for Help
Since Turkey is vitally import
ant key to the Near East, Britain
turned to the United States for help
in carrying out its diplomatic con-
tract.
Unless the military supplies were
delivered as promised. an escape
clause in the treaty would permit
the Turks to agree to any course
forced on them
Responding to the British appeal,
1t was understood that the United
States undertook last May to pro-
vide the military equipment which
would enable Britain to discharge
her treaty obligations and thereby
stiflen Turkish resistance to Axis
diplomatic pressure.
President Roosevelt followed this
up yesterday by putting Turkey on
the lend-leaSe list-an act which,
in effect, gave her formal assurance
that the flow of military equipment
would continue under. the United
States guarantee.
Chairman Connally and several
other Senators commended extern
sion of aid to Turkey.
Turkey has valiantly withstood
repeated Nazi demands" Senator
Continued on Page ALA, Col 81