Children's Hour

Throughout the third straight week of martial law in Istanbul and Ankara, demonstrations burst out almost daily against Premier Adnan Menderes' government. They were not particularly large and nobody got killed, but their persistence argued that the ruling Democrats, triumphant in three elections since 1950, were slipping in popular esteem. Even President Celal Bayar was worried enough to urge Menderes to consider seeking peace with the opposition Republicans. But the Premier was still tough. Cried Menderes, in a speech at Izmir: "These street demonstrations of children will not make me resign." This week, to get the children off the streets, he ordered all colleges and universities in Ankara and Istanbul closed till fall.

Fundamental in Turkey's present test of strength is the attitude of the army, which has been notably restrained in enforcing martial law against the demonstrators. When the Premier returned to Ankara at week's end to welcome India's touring Nehru, police used tear gas to disperse 6,000 anti-Menderes demonstrators shouting: "Freedom!" On hand was an honor guard of military cadets. They began singing Ataturk's favorite old marching song, which demonstrators have been singing since the first riots flared in Istanbul last month. "Long live the Turkish army!" shouted the crowd. "Long live the Turkish nation!" answered the cadets. Next day 500 cadets, soon joined by about 100 captains, majors and lieutenant colonels, marched singing through Ankara. When the Defense Minister called on them to disperse, the cadets shouted: "Why don't you resign?" Next year they will be officers in the army Menderes relies on to keep order in Turkey.

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