BALKAN TENSION WILD EXAGGERATION. WARNING GIVEN. POSSIBLE- WAY OUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 68, 22 March 1927, Page 7

BALKAN TENSION

WILD EXAGGERATION.

WARNING GIVEN.

POSSIBLE- WAY OUT.

FEVERISH ACTIVITY.

Stories of Mustering of Arms on Frontiers. ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT WAR. ■aj CaS.c — Press a 450.- ,;l ;a. — 1 —iv-,1 ;pi ~ , LONDON. March 21. Tne Paris correspondent of the Daily Kxpress say* travellers frora the Franco-Italian frontier report feverish activity on both sides. Barrack-; are crammed 'with -Md.er*. gun.-. Held kitchens and tanks. Armoured trams *tar.d on the railway siding. Other di-patehe* from Pari* mv it is -••mi-officialiy stated that the tension between Italy and Yugo-Uvia ha* oii;*ed inten-e .rtnitv at the French Forei-n Mini-try. The German AmU-i**ador to Paris conferred w.th «ienen»l Berthejot m the al.*en.-e of the Foreign M:m*ter M Briand.

Belgrade TroubledTelegrams from Belgrade, the ca;.it.»: of U2-i>ln\ia. state that the -lament is much troubled about the situation «hjch has a.-i-en from the Italian allegations that is mobilising her troops on the Italian and Albanian frontiers. As a re-ult the Covernment has <5... i-ided to as-eiLibie Parliament to consider the crisi.-.

Mussolini in Role of Villain in the Piece. BRITAIN'S PEACEFUL POLICY i R.*cpiv<?rl 11.30 a.m.. | LONDON", March '21. "Sensationalism and wiid exapgera- i tion." is the description in official circles' of the week-end's reports on the Balkan crisis. I Official dispatches do not confirm the ! rumours of serious warlike motemmts ! and preparations either by Albania or i Yugoslavia. Authoritative sources point out that armed raids by bandits living in the ' mountains around the northern corner of Albania occur every spring and well- | informed people do not hesitate to ascribe to Mu>>olini the roie of villain of the piece. i that the position of the ' Presi<ient of Albania is verv weak. ; Mussolini, it is said, is simplv making ! another of his dramatic moves probably i with no more serious aim than to deflect Italian opinion from internal to foreign , affairs. i Nevertheless Mussolini is credited •*ith sufficient sense, insight and cood- j «ill not to allow a storm m a teacup ! to 20 too far." An official description of the British : policy is a readiness to use its pocd offices if and when an opportunity is i offered either by reference to the League i or otherwise, but also a determination ! not to associate herself definitely with I either Yugoslavia or Italv. The Yugoslavian Foreign Minister's tranic and open invitation for an into Italy's specinc complaints arainst her is welcomed in Downing Street, where it is at present interpreted as >howinjr that Yugoslavia has nothing to hide and that Italy's charges have not a serious foundation. The Foreign Office confidently- ant in pates that the trouble will soon Usmoothed out.

Italy and Britain Remonstrate With Minister. DISTURBING ELEMENT DENIED. Received 1" am i PARIS. March 21. j Le Matin s"* B.>l~rade correspondent i -tates that Anglo-Italian Mi nisters ver-1 bally remonstrated with the Forei-m j Minister. Peritch. pointing out the j possibility of grave complications in the j event of Yugoslavia tailin? to prevent! the incursion of revolutionaries into i Albania. The Foreign Minister denied the exist- j ence of a revolutionary orianisation in j Yugoslavia, which would do anvthin~ to • disturb the peace of the Balkans. j The correspondent understands that \usroslavia is prepared to submit the I question to the Leajrue of Nations and would not oppose the dispatch bv the ' r.eacue of an expeditionary force to pre- j -erve order in Albania. Rome dispatches authoritatively state; that Britain and Italy have iotntlv re- ! uionstrated with Belgrade. ' "

INVESTIGATION FAVOURED. ' < British Official Win-!-** > 2 ps i i RLGBY. Marrh 21. Commenting on the Balkan situation. 1 British newspapers point out that ' Albania can appeal to the Leajrue if it ; feels its security is threatened and that { Jugoslavia. Italy or any Power can in- t voke Article XI. if it considers the ( situation: "Threatens to disturb international peace or good understanding j between nations upon which peace depends." 1 At the same time the inadvisability ! of setting the League machinery in , motion without urgent cause is etupha- ! sised and the view is expressed that the j matter should be capable of adjustment • by ordinary diplomatic meth«*i*. In many quarter* it is thought that the Belgrade »uggv«tion of investigation might he adopted and that the military t attaches of the various Powers should I together ascertain the facta en lh* «jot- i