ITALY ASKS FOR AN EXPLANATION.

Auckland Star, Issue 18, 22 January 1940, Page 7

ITALY ASKS FOR AN EXPLANATION.

GERMAN ATTITUDE. Rome Will Not Tolerate Red Penetration. NAZI TROOP MOVEMENTS. United Press Association.— Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. Italy has asked Germany her attitude in the event of Russian expansion in the Balkans, says the "Sunday Times." Tho message emphasises that Italy will not tolerate Russian penetration, and therefore reserves full liberty of action. The Belgrade correspondent of the "Sunday Times" saya there are Russian, in addition to German, troop movements in Galicia. The Germans have also Germanised the Slovak Army by purging it of unreliable elements. The German forces in north-west Slovakia end south Poland equal the Xear East forces of General Weygand. Nazi sources in Berlin denied that troops had been dispatched to the Rumanian frontier. Economic Concessions. Four German divisions are reported to be on the frontier between Galicia, formerly south-western Poland, and Rumania. German troops have entered, Russia, en route to Odessa, on the Black Sea, said an earlier message. The entry of Germans resulted from the Russo-German trade agreement now being negotiated, under which Germany will have economic concessions in Polish Galieia (occupied by Russia), to develop oil production, saya the Belgrade correspondent of "The Times." Germany has dispatched engineers and skilled workmen under military escort. A report from Amsterdam says it is learned from Berlin that Hitler is giving full attention to the oil war, and urgent messages are being exchanged between the German Government and Dr. Clodius, head of the mission to Rumania. King Carol has again been told Rumania cannot be regarded as genuinely neutral unless the German demands for petrol are satisfied. A message from Bucharest says Germany is regularly sending oil trains with camouflaged tanks to Rumania, and 14 are passing through to Germany every night, congesting the single-track I railway. Hungary is demanding the return of railway trucks from Germany, believing the latter is using them inland after their arrival with Hungarian goods, says a message from Budapest. Democracy Best Course. The Soviet has announced intensive civilian air raid drills throughout Russia from March 1 to May 1, involving 1,000,000 persons in schools, factories and oHices. The Turkish Prime Minister, Dr. Relik Saydain, told the Turkish Parliament that talks with Bulgaria had established friendship and identity of views in the efforts to stabilise peace and security in the Balkans. He added that Turkey had decided democracy was the best course. King Boris of Bulgaria and President Inoiiii of Turkey have exchanged messages expressing complete identity between the Bulgarian aud Turkish points of view. Tho Foreign Ministers of Rumania and Yugoslavia yesterday had a meeting which lasted two hours. Yugoslavia to-day called up five classes of reservists, and war mateilals, mostly from Italy, are constantly arriving. Plans •>r tliu evacuation of towns are complete, in accordance with the General Staff's opinion that trouble is , possible in the spring.