HAT the Prime Minister's spectacular visit to Turkey has achieved
and what it portends is a matter of speculation.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
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If othing more is known, nor is it probable that more will e disclosed, than what the studiously restrained official
ommunique issued at the end of the conference with the
urkish Prime and Foreign Ministers and their staffs re- veals. It is stated plainly that Mr. Churchill's journey was undertaken at his own suggestion, and the fact that President Inonn fell in with it immediately indicates clearly that Turkey feels no reason to concern herself about possible German reactions. The idea that Turkey's entry into the war was in any way solicited may be dismissed. The key to what took place is to be sought in the statement that "agreement was reached on the manner in which Great Britain would be able to help Turkey materially to consolidate her own general defensive security," and the presence of Sir Alan Brooke, General Alexander and high naval and Air Force officers shows how practically the contingency of a possible German violation of Turkey's neutrality was discussed ; it is worth observing also that Sir Maitland Wilson, Commander-in-Chief of the Tenth Army, now stationed in Persia and Iraq, was at Adana, and that that efficient force, no longer needed for possible assistance to the Russians in the Caucasus, is available for other duties elsewhere. Apart from the military situation, there are political and territorial questions in which Turkey has a direct interest ; hence the presence at Adana of Sir Alexander Cadogan, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office, who was not of the Casablanca party. Whether or not the Prime Minister is able to tell the House of Commons more than the world has been told about the Adana conversations, the conclusion that his journey was well worth while is fully justified.
