GERMAN TRADE DRIVE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 34, 19 November 1938, Page 8

GERMAN TRADE DRIVE.

OFFER MADE TO BULGARIA. 12-YEAR AGREEMENT SOUGHT. LONDON, November 11. Germany is bidding for a 12-year trade agreement that might end in Bulgarian vassalage to Berlin. The project is part of the grandiose drive which is being conducted by the German Minister of Economics, Dr. Waltlier Funk, in the Danube and Balkan countries.

Dr. Funk’s scheme offers armaments, machinery, and skilled labour, on condition that Bulgaria supplies Germany with all her surplus raw products, such as tobacco, cereals, fruit and pigs at fixed prices for 12 years. “Since the annexation of the Sudetenland, Germany has taken 50 per cent of Bulgarian exports says “The Times.” If Dr. Funk’s scheme is accepted the percentage will be greatly increased. Some Bulgarian politicians are tempted to accept, because Germany is the only nation with surplus armaments capable of supplying Bulgaria immediately and swiftly. On the other hand, .Bulgaria does not want to give Germany a monopoly of her surplus wheat, which is at present the chief means of enabling Bulgaria to obtain much-needed foreign credits.

“Moreover, Bulgaria doubts the desirability of fixing export prices for 12 years ahead, and does not relish giving Germany a present monopoly and a future strangle-hold on her exports, because at the termination of the period she would probably find herself a German colony, unable to make agreements with other nations, with whom she would have lost all commercial connection.

“Although Bulgaria may agree to exchange some raw products for armaments, she will go no further until she is convinced that she will not become a vassal of Germany.”