Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎9v] (18/978)

14
Turkey
To M. Vyshinsky’s malicious charge of
warmongering Turkey replied with plain
speaking both before the United Nations
and also in her press and broadcasts. At
Lake Success the Turkish delegate gave
the true facts of the case, namely that it
has been the constant aim of Soviet propa
ganda to produce in Turkey hatred between
classes, disaffection in the army and
animosity against the neighbouring Arab
countries, and to foster in Russia and else
where designs on the territorial integrity
of Turkey. That this unwarrantable inter
ference in another country’s affairs has not
had greater success is not because any
inhibitions are felt in Moscow, but rather
because Turkey is still essentially Moslem
enough to be allergic to Communism, and
because nothing binds the Turks so close
together as the fear of Russia. One
Turkish paper rightly pointed out that
warmongering was the last thing to profit
Turkey, since in any war between the
U.S.S.R. and the West she would be a
battlefield. Other Turkish comment has
boldly dwelt on the oppression of the
Russian masses and has ascribed the
viciousness of Soviet diatribes to a con
sciousness of political and economic insta
bility within Russia.
The first instalment of material Ameri
can aid—heavy road-making machines—-
accompanied by technicians, reached
Iskenderun, on 22nd October. Furth®
arrivals are said to be imminent.
Eight members of the House of Com
mons are paying a return visit to Turkey
and had twenty minutes’ friendly conver
sation with the President of the Republic
after he had opened the new session of the
Grand National Assembly on 1st November.
Sir Firoz Khan Noon arrived in Angora
on 29th October, the anniversary of the
foundation of the Republic, for a brief
unofficial visit as the personal representa
tive of Mr. Jinnah. He was promptly
invited to the celebrations and was warmly
received by the President and various lead
ing Turks. Although Turkey is about to
send a diplomatic representative to
Karachi, Pakistan is at present not
officially represented in Angora.
THE MIDDLE EAST
Egypt
There are signs that the cholera epidemic
is beginning to lessen in intensity : on the
31st October, for example, 690 new cases
and 402 deaths were reported, whereas on
the 28th the figures were 900 and 450.
Although cases have been reported in
Upper Egypt, as far afield as Qena and
Assiut, the epidemic is still mainly con
fined to the Delta. The re-opening of the
schools has been authorised by the
Minister of Health, according to the
Journal d'Egypte. All students are
required to produce a certificate of vaccina
tion against cholera, and the serving of
meals in the schools has been forbidden.
The Sudan
The Sudanese who has recently been
appointed Grand Qadhi (see last week’s
Summary under “Egypt”) is Sheikh
al Tahir, who had been officiating in that
capacity since January, 1947, when the
term of office of Shaikh Mamun, an
Egyptian, came to an end. The Egyptian
Government maintain that the holder of the
post should always be an Egyptian ap
pointed by them.
Palestine
The past week has witnessed no
spectacular developments. The attention
of both Arabs and Jews is focused on
Lake Success during this uneasy interreg
num. The Jews are still confident that
partition will be accepted by a two-thirds
majority at the United Nations, and the
Jewish Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. continues its preparations
for the assumption of control over the
Jewish area as soon as the British troops
withdraw. The strengthening of the
Haganah proceeds steadily.
Clashes between the .Haganah and the
Irgun Zvai Leumi have increased in fre
quency during the week. They are
primarily due to the friction between the
opposing ideologies of the Left-wing
advocates of “ national discipline ” (repre
sented by the Haganah) and the Right-wing
supporters of ‘ ‘ genuine national unity
based on a compromise of class interests ”
(represented by the Irgun). So far these
clashes have not assumed major propor
tions, although firearms have been used and
casualties inflicted.
Mr. Ben Gurion made a long speech at
Tel Aviv on the 30th October, which
included a strongly-worded attack on the
British Labour Government for not ful
filling their pledges to the Jews, and praise
for King Abdullah, whose ‘ ‘ wise voice for
peace ’ ’ was a marked contrast to the war
like preparations of the Arab League. He
concluded by promising full equality to all