Rejection

Less dramatic, but likely to be more troublesome in the end, was the Dardanelles situation, which also boiled up last week.

At Potsdam a year ago, the U.S., Britain and Russia promised to submit suggestions for revision of the Montreux Convention (see NATIONAL AFFAIRS) so as to give certain privileges to the Black Sea nations, i.e., Russia and her satellites, Bulgaria and Rumania. The Western powers submitted their ideas, but Russia merely continued a press and radio war of nerves --charged that neutral Turkey had aided the Axis, hinted at territorial demands, asked such questions as: if Britain can control Gibraltar and Suez, and the U.S. Panama, why should not Russia control the Dardanelles? Moscow also pointedly failed to renew its 20-year-old friendship treaty with Turkey, which expired last fall.

A fortnight ago, the Kremlin published its Dardanelles plans: it demanded joint control of the Straits with Turkey. Implied was the right to military bases on Turkish soil.

Meanwhile, at the Paris Peace Conference, Russian-dominated Bulgaria asked for the eastern half of Thrace. In effect, this would give Russia an Aegean coastline, an inferior port (Dede Agach). More important, it would further seal off the Straits, further menace Turkey and Greece.

Emboldened Turks. In separate notes, Washington and London flatly told their Potsdam partner that its Dardanelles demand was unacceptable. The emboldened Turks rejected Moscow's demands.

Russians were scarcely more surprised by the swiftness and stiffness of the U.S. note than Britons, many of whom, familiar with hit & run U.S. foreign policy, are fearful of being left to face Russia alone. London's leftist New Statesman & Nation counseled caution: "Mr. Bevin would be well advised to remember that... his bid for American support in Palestine has failed spectacularly and left us far worse off. ... Can he expect any better results elsewhere in the Middle East?"

But the Turks were quietly elated. Sinking back on their timely political cushion, they pulled on their hookahs and gazed Moscowards with an expression that plainly said: "Your move."

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