Evening star., 1962-05-22
City Voter, Peasant Split
Has PeriIous Consequences
Continued From Page Al

have carried an election by a
narrow margin, if he had had
the courage to call one. But
with the opposition gaining
strength in each new ballot, the
outlook was for a change of
government by democratic
methods in a reasonably short
time. And if it had happened
that way, much of the present
agony might have been avoided.
AS it was, the revolutionary
junta promised the country
four things on coming to power.
First, there would be trials
Of the former government
leaders and the diSbanding of
Mr.. Menderes' Democratic
Party. The charge, literally,
was "trampling on the consti-
tuition" In other words:
treason.
Second, a constituent as
sembly would be called for the
writing of a new constitution.
When the constitution was
ready, it would be submitted to
the country for approval by
means Of q national refer
endum.
And, finally, the military
iunta promised new elections
would be held as soon as
possible.
Promises Kept
At the time, all Of these
promises were received skep-
tically by most Turks. Such
democratic procedures are rare
enough in the old school of
Middle Eastern politics. Many
predicted tEat the army would
be running things for q long
time to come.
Every one Of the promises,
however, was faithfully kept.
Looking at the results, the
cynics are now saying things
would have ceen better if they
had been right in the first place,
and the army had held power.
The trials started late in
September, 1860. Reported in
endless detail by press and ra-
dio, they amounted to q rather
sad episode. The public was
treated to a great deal Of spicy
material that blackened the re-
putations of their former lead
ers. There was the incident of
the Afghan hounds presented
to former President Celal Bayar
by the King of Afghanistan and
subsequently resold for a high
price.
There was the case Of the
ballerina's panties and the COM
promising photographs diScov-
sred in Mr.. Menderes' private
safe. 1t added up to one of the
longest soap operas in history.
Like most soap operas, after a
time 1t became somewhat repel-
lent.
Meanwhile, however, other
developments were taking place.
In November, the junta named
Genial Gursel as interim presi-
dent. Fat, bald and not overly
brilliant, President Gursel was
chosen as an example Of the
respectable Turkish political
leader. His main qualification,
however, was his longtime op-
position to the Menderes
regime.
Group Sent Abroad
Later the same month, IA
members Of the original junta
which took over the country
we're persuaded" to leave Tur-
key. The expelled group formed
the extreme wing of the mill
tary movement-men who op-
posed the idea of handing the
country back to the politicians.
Their leader was a certain
Col. Alpaslan Turkish, A, long,
time head of a racist- Fascist
movement known as Pan
Turan" which advocated
among other things, the recon-
quest of Turkeys Asiatic fa-
therland in what is now Russia
and China. Col. Turkish and
his militant followers were
shipped off as observers" In
embassies abroad, where they
remain today.
In January Of 1861, q consti-
tuent assembly was duly con-
vened. It represented a broad
segment Of Turkish society, in
cluding, along with politicians
and soldiers, representatives of
the liberal professions, lawyers
and university professors. Their
work was finished five months
later, and in July the new con-
Stitution was adopted by a ma
tion-wide referendum.
In the meantime, all politi-
eal activity had been banned
In Turkey for more than a year.
There were, nevertheless, a
number Of important develop
ments. Shortly before the ref
erendum, Ismet Inonu, 78.
venerable leader Of the opposi-
tion Peoples Republican Party
under Mr.. Menderes. spoke out
In favor Of the new constitu-
ton. Early in the game, Mr..
Inonu emerged as the likeliest
successor to Mr.. Menderes' dec
ade of rule.
On the other side of the
fence. there emerged the Jus
tice Party, theoretically a new
group. But since the Menderes
Democratic Party was banned
by decree. its former support
ers had no place to go. AS
time passed, it became clearer
that the new Justice Party was
really little more than a re-
incarnation Of the Democratic
Party under different leaders.
Three Hanged
In September the long trial
Of Mr.. Menderes and his COL
leagues came TO an end. It had