DESIRE FOR PEACE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 248, 27 July 1940, Page 6

DESIRE FOR PEACE

AFFIRMATION BY RUMANIA. DEFENCE OF HER INTEGRITY. CONFERENCE WITH HITLER. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 26. Hitler received M. Gigurtu and M. Manoilescu (Rumanian delegates) at Berchtesgaden. Twelve hours after the conclusion of tho conference a semi-official statementissued at Bucharest emphasised Rumania’s desire for peace, but affirmed its determination to defend its territorial integrity with force if necessary. It was simultaneously reported from Budapest that Hungary to-night bad called thousands more men to the Army, including those previously released for harvesting. The Rumanian delegates are now on route to Rome to meet Mussolini, while the Bulgarian and Slovakian representatives are going to Germany.

A German statement issued after the conference said that the conversations reflected friendliness in GermanRumanian relations. •

Inspired German sources declare that Rumania is willing to make concessions to Bulgaria and Hungary. Despite the latest military activity it is generally considered in Hungary that Rumania has yielded, or would under pressure yield a strip of western Transylvania to Hungary.

A Rumanian statement says: “Tho visit of MM. Gigurtu and Manoilescu tq German and Italy demonstrates Rumania’s desire to contribute effectively to the common life of the Danubian Balkan States and the maintenance of peace in south-eastern Europe. Rumania would assist in the creation of necessary agreements without renouncing her national patrimony. All suggestions that RWnania i$ ready for renunciations are unfounded. Rumania is firmly determined to defend her national interests with force if necessary. The Government is fulfilling its pacific task with the support of a united public and army.”