The same day that Generalissimo Joseph Stalin talked peace to the world, the Soviet Government talked tough to Turkey. After having pondered for a month, the Kremlin rejected the Turkish Government's rejection (TIME, Sept. 2) of Russia's demands for joint Soviet-Turk defense of the Dardanelles (implied was a Russian base on Gallipoli). Russia also:
>Warned that a Turkish military agreement with nonBlack Sea powers (i.e., the U.S. and Britain) would run "directly counter" to Russia's interests.
>Expressed surprise that Turkey should suspect that Russia's demands would violate Turkish sovereignty.
>Expressed indignation that Turkey "has not even made an attempt at joint examination of the Soviet proposals."
Said a Turkish Government source: "Symptoms indicate that something abnormal might happen." Reports from Istanbul declared that 1,000,000 Turkish troops had been alerted and were "ready to fight in five minutes."