NAZI REASON FOR ENTRY TO BULGARIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 52, 3 March 1941, Page 7

NAZI REASON FOR ENTRY TO BULGARIA.

TOKEN OCCUPATION. Counter British Efforts To Incite Turkey. United Trees Association.— Copyright. (Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 2. A semi-official Hungarian agency describes the German entry into Bulgaria as a token occupation. The Berlin radio says the entry should not cause surprise, because it is merely a reaction to Britain's attempts to incite Turkey and thus create a war /one in the Balkans. German troops entering to-day have the full consent of the Bulgarian Government. Telegraphing his resignation to Sofia, the Bulgarian Minister to London M. Momtchilloff, said he disapproved of the policy of his Government in joining the Axis and permitting invasion of the country. He had not been informed of the Government's intentions or latest developments. The Bulgarian Prime Minister Professor Filoff, signed the P™ toc °l of n th * Tripartite Pact in the Yellow Hall of the Belvedere Palace at Vienna says a message from that city. The German Foreign Minister, Ribbentrop, who presided over the ceremony, expressed regret at the absence of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, M. Popoff, "owing to illness." An earlier message from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, said that both Filoff and l'opoff flew to yiexma on Saturday

morning to sign the pact, and that Bulgaria had officially informed Yugoslavia that she was" signing the pact that day.

The protocol is identical with that signed by Rumania, Hungary and Slovakia. Ribbentrop's Congratulations. Ribbentrop, in congratulating Bulgaria, said the armies of the Axis had taken up their positions for attack and were ready to meet and defeat Britain wherever she appeared.

Filoff said Bulgaria would remain in faithful friendship and agreement with her neighbours. She would continue her traditionally friendly relations with the Soviet. The Three-Power Paet was an instrument of policy aimed at securing for the nations the possibility of a greater development and welfare and a just and permanent peace.

Hitler did not attend the signing of the pact, but later he received the signatories.

Three hours after the signing of the pact the German news agency circulated a story that a bomb containing 401b of high explosive was found near the Sofia waterworks, and that it was indisputably proved that it was made by British agente with the object of destroying the Sofia water supply.

A Moscow message says Russia and Hungary have signed an agreement establishing a railway service from March 15 across the Carpathian Mountaine.