TURKEY: Advance Man's Retreat

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Fat, scarfaced Dr. Karl Clodius has long been Adolf Hitler's successful advance man in the Balkans. His luscious blonde "assistant," Edith von Koehler, has long impressed Balkan social circles, which never tire of blondes. But last week Edith von Koehler was not in Ankara and Turkish Government circles were not impressed by Dr. Clodius.

Through Dr. Clodius, Germany had demanded of Turkey large supplies of chrome and cereals, cancellation of her commitments to Great Britain, readjustment of the German-Turkish exchange rate, a long-term credit agreement. After three weeks of Dr. Clodius' noisy persuasions Turkey refused all four demands. Instead of getting the chrome and wheat he especially wanted. Dr. Clodius was obliged to take tobacco, olive oil, fats, copper. Instead of unloading the cameras and miscellaneous gewgaws he has usually dumped on frightened nations, Dr. Clodius agreed to deliver arms, heavy machinery, locomotives.

This week, as deflated Dr. Clodius prepared to leave Ankara, the Turkish Government prepared to receive the advance men of Britain, to discuss the speeding of British deliveries to Turkey.