YUGOSLAVIA SIGNS MODIFIED PACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 69, 22 March 1941, Page 9

YUGOSLAVIA SIGNS MODIFIED PACT.

BELGRADE REPORTS.

Three Opposing Ministers Resign. United Prow Assocu t C..|.y ri^hf. (Rec d. 1 p.m.) LONDOX, Mar. 21. The British United Pres.- Belgrade correspondent says three members of the Cabinet who voted against a pact with Germany have resigned. The Belgrade, correspondent of the Associated Press, in an earlier report, ,aid it was stated that a t ahi net cn-i< j,ad arisen over the Crown Council's reported agreement; to sign a modified \sis P act - " 1C r, '-~i —"-it ion of three Ministers was considered likely, although political circles point, out that the Regent, Prince I'aul, is free to timl a Cabinet that would approve of the proposal. An official communique issued in Belgrade says the Cabinet, met at !> p.m. and tli€ meeting ended at Z a.m. The entire session was devotid to questions concerning the acute foreign political situation. One Minister made, a statement confirming reports that an agreement had |,ecn readied providing for more intimate relations with the Axis. According to the pro German newspaper "Vretnp.," M. Cinear Mavkovitch. Yugoslav foreign .Minister, submitted a plan which Cabinet and the military chiefs were asked to initial without discussion. If Germany accept* the plan, tlie signatures of Kibbentrop and CinearMarkovitch, making it binding on the two countries, will he. nflixcd early next week in the presence of .Mr. Matsuoka, Japanese Foreign Minister. The newspaper adds: "Yugoslavia will join the Axis Pact, but will be exempted from its military clauses, the other signatories guaranteeing her territorial integrity and independence. Yugoslavia will also allow tlie transport of war materials across her territory and also hospital trains without examination. She will also end all antiAxis propaganda and agree to co-operate economically with the Axis. The agreement further provides that Germany and Italy will respect Yugoslavia's right to refuse entry of troops or their transit | through the country and will endeavour after the war to obtain for Yugoslavia free outlet to the sea." Tlw Moscow radio later broadcast the report in the Belgrade "Vremes." tlie announcer adding that Yugoslavia was about to join a modified tripartite pact. It may safely he assumed, says British Official Wireless, that in their negotiations the Germans have been extremely anxioui to tempt Yugoslavia into the course followed with such disastrous results to the neighbours, Rumania, and llnlgaria, of whose fate Yugoslavia is (inly conscious. Recent erperience of Herman technique might well lead Yugoslavia to the realisation that any agreement signed with Germany would lie used faJ her as the thin end of the wedge. The fact that the Germans are undoubtedly putting most intense pressure un the Yugoslavs only serves to reinforce this point. Any agreement signed with Germany would undoubtedly prejudice the Yugoslav position and diminish hopes—hopes which are believed to be shared by the vast majority of people and the army in Yugoslavia —to maintain their national independence and sovereignty.