Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-06-25
Fact And Opinion
Turkey Veering Toward the Axis?
BY e. C. Stengelsen.

Is Turkey Veering Toward the Axis?
Whether Turkey is actually as
friendly toward Britain as we have
been led to believe may be open to
debate.
/ We remember that of Roumania,
as well, it was claimed that her
sympathies were pro-British. Yet,
she and Britain are now at war.
Whatever may be the truth con-
corning the Turks attitude toward
Britain, they are by no means friend
ly toward Britain's ally, Russia. The
two countries are ancient enemies
They were on opposite sides during
the World war, and it was not so
many decades earlier that the Turko-
Russian war was fought.
Up until fairly recently, Turkey
made some show of observing neu-
trality. She issued a warning that
she had two million bayonets in
readiness to defend her soil. At the
. time it was assumed it was directed
toward the Nazis. In the light of
recent developments, one wonders
Whether it may not have been meant
) for Britain as well.
. Of late, signs are accommodating
J that Turkey is veering toward the
; Axis
At a time such as this, events
which in themselves seem small may
. have significance. There is, for ex-
, ample, the exhibition of pictures of
) German officers which was opened
recently in Ankara. It hardly signi-
fies such unfriendliness toward Ger
many that the United Nations can
: take much comfort from it. When
General Guhr, the Nazi leader, Wis
tied the exhibition as representative
of the German army, he was given
; very cordial official reception.
? Another straw in the wind is the
. appointment, not long since, of DR..
J Fiky Tuezer, an avowed pro-Nazi,
as Turkeys interior minister.
Both Britain and Germany have
been wooing Turkey. Both have
dangled before her the bait of COM
mercial or economic advantages.
But conditions in the Mediterran-
can have all but halted English mar
thine intercourse with Turkey. The
Germans have, however, maintained
steady commercial relations by rail.
In some respects they have not full
filled their agreements. But their
performance has probably been far
more complete than England's.
Within recent weeks, there has
been vigorous press campaign in
Ankara, sponsoring Turkish territor-
ial claims on the Caucasus and other
Russian territories. Strict observ-
ance of neutrality might have re-
quired the Turkish censor to put a
stop to this agitation. 1t may be
significant that he has kept studi-
ously quiet.
Two Russians were tried and con-
victed recently in a Turkish court
on charge of attempting the assas-
sination of the Nazi diplomat, Won
Papen. Russia protested vehemently.
Turkey paid no attention.
Noting the disquieting change in
Turkeys attitude, Russia the other
day gave the Turks blunt warning
to refrain from giving such aid to
the Axis powers as would work to
Russia's injury. Turkey did not re-
ply.
u Germany is in a position to offer
the Turks inducements which the
United Nations are unable to match.
The Nazis have doubtless promised
the Turks at least the restoration
of territory taken by Britain and
France in the World war. Portions
of Russia may have been promised
as well. The Germans can afford
to be generous. 1t is not their own
territory they are giving away.
Such secret negotiations as there
may have been have of course been
carried on by the willy and persua-
sive Won Papen. The United Nations
have nobody at Ankara, comparable
in ability with this seasoned veteran.
We may be seeing, soon, the re-
suit of his scheming.
Even if Turkey goes no farther in
helping the Axis than we went in
helping Britain while we still pro-
fessed neutrality, it may do the cause
| of the United Nations incalculable
harm.
The opening of the Dardanelles,
for example, to the entrance of Ital-
ian warships might end Russia's con-
troll of the Black sea. It would
greatly facilitate the German in
vasion of the Caucasus.
Or if she granted the Germans a
right of way over Turkish territory,
it might result in Nazi conquest of
Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Suez, Egypt
and invasion of the Caucasus from
the south. A logical next step would