Turkish-German Trade
The fact has to be recognised that Turkey, however sympa- thetic with Great Britain and anxious to carry out the terms of her Treaty, is not at war with Germany and is not prepared to adopt a defiant attitude on trading matters so long as her essential interests are not threatened. She has concluded a trade agreement which gives some immediate gratification to Germany, though the latter's main demands will not be satisfied for at least fifteen months, if then. In regard to the raw materials which she offers in the near future for steel and war material; the transference will be strictly on a barter basis, and at exchange rates not unfavourable to Turkey. It must be remembered that in normal times Turkey sends a large pro- portion of her raw materials to Germany ; her deliveries will be limited by her actual receipts, and will certainly not reach the nominal figure of £Troo,000,000 named in the agreement. None the less, the exchange will be worth some- thing to the Nazis, who will at least claim that they have scored at our expense ; but to what extent Germany will really be willing to pour arms into a country which at any moment she may decide to attack is a relevant question. But on the main issue round which the negotiations turned her gains are remote and problematic. What Germany specially wants is chrome for making aeroplane engines. But all Turkey's exports of chrome are earmarked for Great Britain by agreement until the end of 1942, and her representatives have steadily refused to break this agreement or to offer any substantial supplies of chrome until 1943, and then only if she has actually received the war material she has ordered. It may well be asked why, in looking ahead, we did not succeed in making a longer agree- ment. But it is no small gain that Germany will receive from Turkey no chrome, with the possible exception of a trifling amount for. use in making goods to be exported to Turkey, till the end of next year.
