Turkey Reported Expelling 34 Greek Jews; Many Ousted Previously

The Istanbul press reported today that the Council of Ministers had decided to expel 34 Jews of Greek nationality from Turkey within one week. According to the reports, the reason for the decision was “activities detrimental to national interests.” The expulsion order, if implemented, will bring to about 8,400 the number of Greek nationals, many of them Jews, expelled from Turkey or who have left voluntarily as a result of the Turkish-Greek conflict in Cyprus.

It was charged that the 34 Jews had contributed “large sums” to local Greek clubs which were closed down several years ago. The newspaper Hurriyet, however, pointed out that the Jews had been obliged to contribute to the clubs as a “sort of tax” to extend their passports. Another reason alleged for the expulsion decision was that the Jews had allegedly smuggled large sums of money out of Turkey, “thus jeopardizing the country’s economy.” The newspaper Ashkam charged that most of the affected Jews — whose total capital the newspaper said was valued at more than $10,000,000 — smuggled large sums to Swiss banks.

The sensational newspaper publicity caused grave concern to the Jewish community in Turkey. Previously Greek Jews had been exempt from the Government’s decision for expulsion of Greek nationals, which was started last year. The Greek Jews were allowed to remain and to work, although their capital and assets, like those of other Greek nationals, were blocked by the Turkish Government.

Most Greek Jews applied for Turkish citizenship, and about a dozen obtained it, with others awaiting approval of their applications. The deportation order deeply upset the remaining Greek Jews, who fear that the 34 will have to leave and the rest — about 100 with their families — fearful they too will be expelled in the apparent Turkish campaign to oust all Greek nationals, Jewish and Christian. There are about 17,000 Greek nationals left in Turkey.

Other newspapers reported that most of the affected Jews were merchants, manufacturers and commission agents. Several were reported to be in poor health and elderly.

(In Washington, a spokesman for the Turkish Embassy said his Government’s mission in the United States has no official information on the reported developments and was, therefore, unable to comment on the reports from Istanbul.)