Evening star., 1941-03-25
Soviet Makes P|edue
To Stay Neutral if
Turkey Is Attacked
Russia Reported Banning
Reich Oil Shipments;
Forces Strengthened
By the Associated Press.

SiSSS SAiSuS3 kiShSo
,, the Associated Press.
ANKARA, Turkey, March 25.-
Soviet Russia clarified her attitude
toward swiftly moving events in the
Balkans today by promising to re-
main neutral. if Turkey, Britains
on-benigerent ally, were attacked
and forced to enter the war in self
defense.
Announcement of the pledge,
which observers believed would
stiffen Turkish resistance to Ger
man overtures, conceded with re-
ports that Russia had cut off oil
shipments to the Reich and was
concentrating additional army and
naval forces in the Black Sea area.
High diplomatic circles saw in the
Russian promise an implication that
the Soviet is prepared to give Turkey
full material support to defend the
Dardanelles, vital gateway between
the Mediterranean and Black Seas,
against any possible German en-
croachment.
CReports from Belgrade said
Russian military supplies already
were flowing into Turkey across
the Caucasus frontier
Particular Significance.
These circles attached particular
significance to the fact that Russia's
reassurances to Turkey conceded
with the gathering of axis leaders
In Vienna today to welcome Yugo-
slavia into the German-Itallan-
Japanese camp.
The Soviet declaration was re-
garded by these circles as a further
development of Russian policy re-
flected when the Kremlin publicly
announced earlier this month It's dis
approval of Bulgaria's action in
opening her frontiers to German
troops.
Observers expressed belief Russia
was feeling increasing concern for
her own vital interests, not only in
the Balkan zone, but in a larger
sphere.
With German armies less than 100
miles from the Dardanelles, the
Reich in control of the entrance
to the Baltic Sea and Japan estab-
lished in the Pacific with a vastly
superior feet, Russia Is virtually
landlocked from strategic point of
view, these sources said. In the
far north Russia has only one
Year-round, ice-free port, Marmansk.
Seen Heavy Blow to Reich.
Russia's reported action in cutting
off oil shipments to Germany-a
step she was said to have taken
Immediately after Nazi troops en-
tered Bulgaria-was seen as a
potentially heavy blow to the Reich.
Experts said the petroleum Ger
many Is able to obtain from Ru-
mania, one of her main sources of
supply, produces an inferior grade
of lubricating ola vital factor in
operations of the Reich's air fleet,
navy and mechanical army units.
The Russian pledge to Turkey, as
announced here in special COM
munique, promised full and compre-
hensive neutrality" should Turkey
become the object of aggression and
find herself obliged to enter war
for the defense of her territory"
The pledge is reafflrmation of a
non-aggression pact negotiated be-
tween the two countries in 1925. In
return for the Russian promise, the
Turkish government said it had
given the Soviet similar reassur-
arces.
Text Of Communique.
The text of the conmunique:
these declarations have been re-
Gently exchanged by the Turkish
and Soviet governments:
Following reports which have ap-
peared in the foreign press to the
effect that if Turkey is obliged to
enter the war the Soviet would take
advantage of the difficulties with
which Turkey would be confronted
In order to attack her, and in con-
nection with a question raised on
the subject, the Soviet government
has informed the Turkish govern
ment as follows:
"QD Such reports do not CORE
spond in any way to the position
OF the Soviet government.
"(2) In the event that Turkey
should be the object of aggression
and she found herself obliged to
enter war for the defense OF her
territory, Turkey could then, in con-
formity with the aggression pact
existing between herself and the
q. S. S. r., rely on the full and
comprehensive neutrality of the
q. S. S. r.
THE Turkish government has ex-
pressed to the Soviet government its
sincerest thanks for this declaration
and has informed it that the U. S.
S. r. on its side, in the event 1t
should find itself in similar situa-
ton, could rely on the full and COM