Evening star., 1947-03-30
TurkeyPuts
FaithinU.N.
Relies on Council
to Hold Russia
in Check
Bv Constantine Brown
The s,or's Foreign Affairs Analyst


be seen before the middle of neXt
month, in the opinion Of Turkish
political and military leaders, who
have had wider experience with
Russian reactions than most leaders
of the western powers.
In spite of general uneasiness In
official quarters over the possibility
of Russia breaking out and fulfilling
her centuries-old ambition to rule
Istanbul and the straits, some high
ranking officials in Ankara believe
that Russia would not dare fout the
United Nations, the western powers
and particularly the United States,
which now has shown her deep con-
Germ over the straits.
These Ankara officials believe in
the United Nations, which was Gre
ated for the express purpose Of
keeping peace by preventing ag-
gression. Regardless of what excuse
Russia might offer, an attack on
Turkey, either from the Bulgarian
side or from the Armenian and
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republics,
would have to be considered as rank
aggression calling for immediate
action.
Counts on 45 Votes.
Russia, after all, has only small
number Of satellites in the United
Nations, these high Turkish Off
cials contend. An attack against
Turkey, regardless Of how camou-
flaged, would evoke action from at
least As members of the interna-
tional peace organization, they de-
clare.
The situation regarding Greece, as
seen from here, is entirely different.
There is ample proof in the hands
of the Turkish government that the
Hellenic kingdoms troubles do not
come from within, but are being
created by the Slavic bloc.
The self-styled patriot" bands of
guerrillas, which harassed the feeble
Greek government during the win
ter, are organized in Bulgaria, Yu-
goslavia, Albania and Macedonia
Actually these bands" are regular
army units of battalion strength.
They are as well equipped as the
forces OF the Greek governmental
not better-and in many instances
are more ably led.
Large stores of all kinds of sup-
plies-many, according to Turkish
observers, of UNRRA and lend
lease origin-provide these units
with all that is necessary to carry
on large-scale warfare just as soon
as weather conditions no. longer
handicap movement.
Reds Strong in Greece.
These facts are well known in
Turkey, which is on the fringe of
the iron curtain, and have unques-
tlonably been presented to the U. N.
commission, which is apprc aching
the end of it's investigation in the
Balkans.
But while a Russian attack on
Turkey could never be justified by
the Moscow leaders, it will be diff
cult for the United States and other
countries which share her point of
view to make the U. S. S. r. directly
responsible for what is going on in
Greece.
Unlike Turkey, Greece has a
strongly organized Communist
Party, which is ready to take over
the reins of government. 1t is
protecting the fifth column in that
country by exploiting dissatisfac-
tions and it Identifies the Com
munist guerrilla warfare with q
struggle for democracy"
The guerrillas outside Greece's
borders-some 250,000 to 100000
well-armed and trained men-were
organized on Moscow's orders by
its puppets-Marshal Tito of Yugo-
slavia, Enver Hoxha, self-styled
ruler OF Albania, and Georgi DIM
itrov, whom Moscow sent to take
over affairs in Bulgaria.
Hard to Prove.
1t will not be easy for the U. N.
TO hold Russia legally responsible
for the troubles in Greece. In the
years which preceded World War
IL 1t was common knowledge that
the separatist movement in the
Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia was
manufactured in Berlin. But the
Western European powers accepted
Hitler's claim that it was a spon-
taneous manifestation on the part
of millions of Germans who inhab-
tied that region.
Similarly, the Kremlin spokesmen
can contend-and expect to be be-
heved IN some quarters-that Rus
sia Is not involved, except senti-
mentally, in the present separatist
movement in Northern Greece
Turkish observers believe it will be
difficult to prove the contrary
Realistically.
1t is well-known that the genera,
staff. of the Greek guerrillas is ex-
clusively Russian. 1t is equally we'll
known that three of the best Russian
NkVD regiments stationed in Bull.
garia have been sent to Macedonia
where they are the core of the in
vasion forces. But the Russian Of
ficers speak Bulgarian and Yugo-
slavian languages, they wear the
nondescript uniforms of the guer.
rillas and cannot be officially desig-
mated as members of the Soviet
Army.
Other Loopholes.
The same thing is true of the
puppet governments of Bulgaria
Yugoslavia and Albania, all of which
can. deny that they are lending any
aid to the guerrillas. Although the
United Nations investigation will
show that the invading units take