Evening star., 1945-11-28
Letters to The Star
Turkish Representative Denies
Straits Are an Orphan Area


Straits Are an Orphan Area
To the Editor of The Star:
1t is far from my intention to take
issue with the National Geographic
Society on reprint which appeared
in The Sunday Star OF November rs.
1t is still further from my desire to
enter into controversy on the "Darda-
nelles question" the pros and cons OF
which, as vital key problem, are too
well known to necessitate further eluci-
dation.
However, feel bound, for the sake
OF truth-which Americans do not tire
OF seeking-to call attention to the
somewhat biased character of the con-
clusions arrived at in the serial released
by the National Geographic Society un-
der the title Orphan Areas Of Europe"
and reprinted in your columns.
I do not see why the Dardanelles
come under the Orphan Areas of Eu-
rope" If my knowledge of the Eng
lish language does not fail me, an or
phan Is some one bereft of his parents.
In the case of an orphan area it would
mean, by implication at least, that the
area in question had lost its ownership.
Such Is not the case with either the
Straits of Dardanelles or the cities of
1Stanbul and Edirne, or of Turkish
Thrace. Five hundred years OF owner
ship, as admitted by the article under
reference, must mean something. Com
mon law in any land would lead a
jurlst to issue final deeds and titles to
the occupant Of any land, If it's his
tory proved uninterrupted occupation
by ancestors for a period of five CEN
turies.
I am not making this statement as a
Turkish plea. Seek high and low, it
will not be possible to find one Turk
who, by persuasion or intimidation, can
bring himself to regard these territories
other than as his rightful property.
Another point in the article which
seems distortion of fact is apparent
in the statement that the Persian Gulf
and Murmansk routes were wartime
makeshifts, opened because of neutral
Turkeys firm refusal to open the straits
to the United Nations until the final
months of the European war" How,
may I ask, could the Anglo Turkish
alliance have survived had Turkey so
openly refused aid to the Allies? Would
the Allies, including the United States,
have continued to reinforce Turkish
military strength, through lease-lend
and other channels, had doubts existed
as to Turkeys loyalty to the Allied
cause? Furthermore, could any thought
ful person suggest sending supplies to
Russia via the Dardanelles at any time
during World War II when the German
forces Of occupation in the Balkans
remained until the last months of the
war, while the German air force DOM
mated the Aegean Sea, guarding the
main entrance to the Dardanelles?
do not believe 1t is fair to overlook
or forget recent history so suddenly.
Almost through the whole campaign in
the European theater of operations the
Germans were able to dominate the
straits and the sea routes leading to
them, because of their predominant
position in Romania, Bulgaria and
Greece, as well as in the Aegean is
lands. Had sizable map of the Medi-
terranean been printed in The Star,
readers would have been better enabled
to judge that, with scores of islands
dotting the Aegean Sea, on which Ger
man air squadrons were based, let alone
those on the mainland, the thought of
sending Allied ships through the Darda-
nelles would have been nothing short of
suicidal.
One more word with regard to the
allegation of Turkeys closing the straits.
Has any Allied leader, statesman or
official ever so much as insinuated that
Turkey actually opposed passage of
Allied ships through the Dardanelles?
To the best of my recollection no such
accusation has been brought against
Turkey.
do not believe that it is fair either
to cite Lloyd George on the ques-
ton OF how long Turkish defense of the
straits or the British failure to force
them prolonged the First World War.
1t Is my conviction that questions of
military nature are best left to mill
tary experts for judgment. Further
more, this is no time to discuss respon-
slbiity for Turco-British estrangement
during the FIRST World War or for the
utter folly of a policy of instigating
the Greco-Turkish War of the post
armistice years OF 1919 to 1921, in which
the blood of both nations flowed in
streams
1t always is difficult to believe that
good may come from evil. Yet today
the reality and intrinsic value of the
Turco-British alliance and friendship.
as well as of the Turco- Greek friends ]
ship, are beyond question, and both in
my opinion are capable of weathering
more storms. NUZET BABA,
Press Attache to the Turkish Embassy.
Sees American Prestige Lost
To the Editor of The Star:
When the sun set on VI day, the
prestige of the United States was at a
new high in all corpars ~ tho c,ah.