26 APRIL 1935, Page 2

Turkey and the Straits Turkey has discovered another argument for

her claim to fortify the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus in the rearmament of Germany and the proposed grant of military equality to Austria, Hungary and Bulgaria. Her Foreign Minister raised the question again .at last week's special session of the League Council, and received support from M. Litvinoff. But there is no real analogy between the disarmament of the- Straits and the dis- armament of the Central. European Powers. The latter was a condition of inferiority imposed on the conquered. The former was agreed to in a freely negotiated Treaty. It was based on the interests of a large number of Powers. The Straits are the only water-way between the Black Sea and the Aegean ; and the Black Sea affords the only maritime outlet for Bulgaria and Roumania and also receives the waters of the Danube, which passes through Central Europe. Russia has always desired that her neighbour Turkey should have the power • to block the Straits. . It is in the interest of all other Powers in the west and east of Europe that it should remain a demilitarized international waterway.

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