Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-08-21
Calculated Move by
Moscow for Rule in
Middle East Seen
fTert OF U. S. Note to Russia
on Page A-6.J
By Gornett D. Horner

American officials regard Rus
sia's demand on Turkey for a
share in the defense of the OAR
danelles as a calculated move to-
ward dominance over the whole
Middle East, raising a serious
threat to world peace.
This became known authoritatively
today as the State Department made
public note to Moscow firmly op-
posing the demand and insisting on
voice for this country in setting
up future control of the strategic
waterway between the Mediterran-
can and the Black Sea.
The potentially explosive situa-
ton, it was learned, was carefully
considered by State, War and Navy
Department officials with President
Truman last week when it vas de-
cided to make the American position
known with all the firmness possible
in the hope that this would deter
the Soviet from any action that
would precipitate serious trouble.
Note Contents Forecast.
Contents of the firm but polite
note to Russia, insisting that future
control of the DardanelleS "be
brought into appropriate relation
ship with the United Nations" and
that Turkey remain primarily re-
sponsible" for defense of the Straits,
were forecast in unofficial reports
published yesterday.
More significant than the formal
note itself is the grave manner in
which top American officials talk
privately of the matter as one of the
most serious with which they have
been confronted since the war. and
say that there can be no backing
down from the position taken by this
Government--no Munich-like settle
ment.
Their attitude is based on a
searching analysis of the situation,
involving these main points:
/. Russia's legitimate interests in
the Dardanelles can be met by re-
vision of the Montreux Convention
of 1886, governing their use, to as
sure freedom of passage through the
straits to Soviet merchant vessels
and warships at all times. The
United States advocates such revi-
sion.
2. Russias demand to join Turkey
in organizing Joint means of de-
Tense of the straits" assumed to in
volve establishment of Soviet bases
in the Dardanelles, goes beyond her
legitimate interests and must mean
she has something different in mind.
Forts Held Not Justified.
3. So far as defending the straits
is concerned, there is no military
Justification for Notifications on
them since Russian planes operat-
ing from Russian territory could
close them effectively to any enemy
as the Germans closed them dur
ing the last war by occupying the
Aegean Islands.
4. No Turkish government de-
pending on popular support could
survive if it granted bases to Rus
STA in the Dardanelles.
5. Therefore, fulfllment of the
Russian demands would mean crea-
ton of a Soviet satellite govern
ment in Turkey.
6. Such Russian domination of
Turkey would mean Soviet domina-
ton of the whole Near Eastern area,
putting Russia in position to eX-
tend her sway into India and China
and seriously prejudicing American
interests.
Z. The result would be the most
complete division of the world into
Western and Eastern blocs, wreck
ing the United Nations:
Force Would Mean Trouble.
Such reasoning makes it clear to
the top American officials that, as
one said privately, any Russian at
tempt to pack up with force the
demands on Turkey would mean
very grave trouble in the world, 1"
from which he could not imagine
the United States remaining aloof.
This possibility was fully reviewed
by the President and his State, War
and Navy chiefs at a White House
meeting last week. The American
position was set firmly then, and
presumably it was decided to at
tempt to promote public understand
ing of the vital issues involved.
I'VE are not bargaining" one Of
flcial said. I'VE are not bluffing
We have taken an attitude to which
we intend to stick. We want tc
make that crystal clear to every
body.
I'VE do not intend to be shrilly
belligerent about it. We do intend
to be absolutely and unshakeably
firm"
AS far-reaching as the Darda-
nelles issue is in itself, American
officials link it in broad pattern
with such things as Soviet sup
ported Yugoslavia's outrageous at
tacks on American transport planes
indicating an aggressive attitude OF
pushing in and keeping trouble
brewing on the part of Russia ano
the Eastern European nations In
her orbit.
The increased tension from Trieste
to the Black Sea added significance
to Navy announcement that two
of its ranking Admirals have
left for Europe on a routine in
spection tour" that will include
Mediterranean areas London re-
ports had said they would visit
troubled areas"
Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, acting
1See DARDANELLES, Page A-6)