http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1941/feb41/f17feb41.htm
Bulgaria and Turkey sign friendship pact
Monday, February 17, 1941 www.onwar.com
In Sofia... Under German pressure Turkey and Bulgaria sign a friendship agreement by which Turkey accepts that the movement of German troops through Bulgaria is not an act of war. This more or less confirms that there is no possibility of Turkey being persuaded to ally with Britain.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/17.htm
February 17th, 1941
UNITED KINGDOM:
Churchill to CIGS:
What are the arrangements in British Columbia for dealing with the Japanese colony there should Japan attack? The matter is of course for the Canadian government, but it would be interesting to know whether adequate forces are available in that part of the Dominion. About thirty years ago, when there were anti-Japanese riots, the Japanese showed themselves so strong and so well organised as to be able to take complete control.
Destroyer HMS Avon Vale commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)
FRANCE: Céline in La Gerbe, “Are the Jews responsible for this war or not? Let us have the answer down black on white, you acrobatic scribblers.”
TURKEY: Ankara: The heavy emphasis in mutual goodwill and friendly relations in the treaty signed here this afternoon is a reflection of the deep mistrust Turkey and Bulgaria have long felt for each other.
Bulgaria has never ceased to fear that one day Turkey will seek to regain the territory lost after the Great War and in the Balkan Wars before it, while the build-up of German troops in Bulgaria in recent weeks has alarmed the Turks, who are worried that the Germans’ next blow will be delivered in the Balkans and threaten Turkey.
JAPAN: Foreign Minister MATSUOKA Yosuke states that the white race must cede Oceania to the Asiatics. “This region has sufficient natural resources to support from 600 million to 800 million people. I believe we have a natural right to migrate there” says Matsuoka.
AUSTRALIA: Minesweeper HMAS Castlemaine laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
U.S.A.: Washington: The Senate starts debating the Lend-Lease Bill.
Light cruiser USS Birmingham laid down. (Dave Shirlaw)
ATLANTIC OCEAN:
At 0008, SS Gairsoppa, a straggler from Convoy SL-64, was torpedoed and sunk by U-101 about 300 miles SW of Galway. The master, 81 crewmembers and two gunners were lost.
At 0633, tanker SS Edwy R. Brown, a straggler from convoy HX-107, was torpedoed and sunk by U-103 SW of Iceland. The master, 47 crewmembers and two gunners were lost.
MS Siamese Prince sunk by U-69 at 59.53N, 12.12W. (Dave Shirlaw)