Nov. 4
Without being in any way provocative, President Incunu, speaking before the Turkish National Assembly, gave a clear exposition of Turkey's policy with regard to the European war, and one which will be. heartily welcomed by Great Britain. From the point of view of the latter it is distinctly encouraging. Turkey was studying the situation created by the Italian invasion of Greece with her British Ally, and all aspects were being considered, and while the President left open the question of what Turkey would do, he did not say that it would not act. His reference to the "unbreakable bonds of al-
Bianco with Britain", coming at such a time this, demonstrates to the Axis Powers the strength of the bonds uniting the two coun~ tries, and clearly indicates the intention of Turkey loyally to carry out her commitments, That President Ineunu should have done this at a time when the Axis Powers were getting nearer to the Turkish borders is in itself highly significant, for it em= phasized interest in the Italo-Greek confi as the entrance of the war into a zone the security and tranquillity of which are of primary importance to Turkey.
That warning may be taken as indicating that, should Bulgaria be prevailed upon by the "Axis Powers to enter the fight against Greece, and there is little doubt they will endeavour to do 80, if the Italians are shown unable to deal with Greece singlehanded, Turkey will be drawn into the struggle. Apart from that it is the desire of the Turkish Government to keep the country out of the war. Should it be foreed to parti~ cipate the responsibility will be clearly that of the Axis Powers. Meanwhile President Incunu's insistence upon complete Turkish neutrality permitting none of the belligertory, seas or air s0 long as she is not drawn into the struggle should serve to allay Russian anxiety as {0 whether Britain would be allowed to establish air bases on Turkish soil, and may consequently be expected to have an all~ round reassuring effect.
In the meantime the Italian invasion of Greece does not appear to be proceeding with the rapidity which was expected. Reports from both Greece and Italy as well as from 'Yugoslavia conflict greatly, and while the Greeks claim to be making headway into Albania, Italy alleges that her forees are converging' on Janina, and making some progress in the direction of Florina. That they are not moving faster is alleged to be duc to weather conditions, though it is apparent from the reports that the Greek troops already fon the spot are putting up a gallant and effective resistance, while reinforcements are swiftly going forward to the scene of action. It is particularly gratifying to learn that British troops have landed on the Grecian islands, and that any Italian attempt to seize them first has consequently been foiled. They will undoubtedly be quickly organized as air and naval bases from which the southern end of Italy can be attacked, while additional air protection for Greece can also be supplied from the same places. A British mili~ tary liaison mission has already commenced working with the Greek authorities, and the British have shown the readiness and determination to give the Greeks every possible assistance in the shortest space of time.
The Yugoslav plea for the continued observancy of her neutrality may prove in the ong run to have fallen on dear cars. Mus~ solini, it is well known, has for long had designs upon that country, while in Austria there are German forces which are equally as threatening. It may very well prove to bbe the ease that, should the Halians find it difficult {o make headway into Greece across the Albanian border, they will demand passage through Yugoslavia, Should she endeavour to vindicate her neutrality by refusing it, the probability is that Italy would march through the country anyhow, and should resistance be offered Germany would undoubtedly come to the help of her ally, in which event Yugoslavia would be faced with the choice of resisting, or giving way. Militarily speaking, though she has a strong army, her position is not good, and if, before the end of the war, she also suffers the ordeal of partition between the two Axis Powers, she also will have to be content with the knowledge that, freedom will only be regained when Britain gains the vietroy she is determined to.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.