Turkey's New President The character and achievements of Kemal Atatiirk
are described by Professor Arnold Toynbee in this week's Spectator ; by his death last week Europe lost one of the few constructive statesmen who have emerged in the post- War era. This week the Turkish National Assembly unani- mously elected General Ismet Inonii, more famous as Ismet Pasha, to be the second President of the State which Atattirk created out of the ruins of the Turkish Empire. General Inonii fought in the two Balkan wars and against Allenby in Palestine, commanded a Kemalist army in Anatolia and played a large part in the defeat of the Greeks ; from 1925 until October of last year he was Prime Minister. No one could be better fitted to carry on Atattirk's work, and, though Dr. Rustu Aras has resigned after thirteen years as Foreign Minister, there is no indication of any change in Atatiirk's policy. But General Iniinirs responsibilities will be increased by the dangers to Turkey involved in the problem of Germany's expansion. As before the War, every effort will be made to increase German influence there. And though Turkey will certainly accept any benefits she may obtain by such efforts, her policy must continue to rest on the friendships, with the U.S.S.R., with Great Britain, and, recently, with the Balkan States, which won Atatiirk such notable successes.
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