Plain Warning

Turkish President Ismet Inoenue warned his National Assembly this week that Turkey was in danger of attack. Said he:

"Turkey is closer to war today than at any time since the present world conflict started.

"We will continue to maintain loyally and scrupulously our national policy, remaining faithful to our contractual engagements, to our alliance [with Britain] and our friendship [pact with Germany].

"One begins to understand that political institutions founded on domination by a single power cannot be maintained."

This was as plain a warning as the President of a neutral country could give that Turkey would be neither a diplomatic nor a military pushover for the Axis. Turkey was preparing northern defenses. Vital Turkish chromium was being shipped to the United Nations while Hitler paid Turkey in locomotives and rolling stock for the 90,000 tons he hoped to get in 1943.* U.S. Lend-Lease shipments to Turkey were increasing. Soviet Ambassador Sergei Vinogradov was expected soon to return to Ankara. The signs were as clear as Inoenue's words.

* Experts estimated that Germany would have to have 150,000 tons of high-grade Turkish chromium in 1943 or the quality of German armor plate would depreciate.

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