ATATÜRK’S FORESIGHT
On June 21, 1935, Gladys Baker conducted an interview with
Atatürk at Dolmabahçe Palace. She later published her
impressions of this meeting in her memoir I Had To Know.
She asked:
-If war breaks out, will America be able to maintain its policy
of neutrality?
Atatürk replied:
-There is no possibility.
He continued:
-If
war breaks out, America’s high position within the community of
nations will certainly have an impact. Regardless of
geographical circumstances, nations are bound to one another by
many ties.
Atatürk likened the nations of the world to residents living in
the same apartment building:
-The
United States of America occupies the most luxurious flat in
this building. If some of the residents set the building on
fire, it is impossible for the others to escape its effects. The
same applies to war. The United States cannot remain distant
from it.
He added:
-Moreover, since America is a great and powerful state with
connections all over the world, it can never allow itself to
fall into a secondary position politically or economically.