CRISIS ENDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 71, 25 March 1941, Page 7

CRISIS ENDS.

BELGRADE CABINET.

Formations Of Germans In

Struma Valley ?

L'niteil Tress Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON". Mar. 24. It is announced in Belgrade that the Cabinet crisis has been solved. M. Konstantinovitch has been reinstated as Minister without portfolio, M. Ikonitch has been appointed Minister of Social Affairs, and M. Xikotovitch, Minister of Agriculture.

General Xcditch has ordered all troops to be confined to barracks from today. Large formations of German troops have been seen in the Struma Valley, marching south since yesterday.

The "Daily foreign editor says that after the week-end demonstrations against Germany no Yugoslav Government would allow the German Army to use the country as a corridor for a drive ajrainst Greece. If Hitler forced Belgrade to yield to his full demands he would risk civil war in Yugoslavia. '1 his would lead to the founding of a provisional republic which would wholeheartedly support the democracies.

'1 lid "Daily Telegraph" diplomatic correspondent says Prince Paul's'position is <lclieate since, though he is not himself democratic at heart, he has control of a people who are not only democratic but extremely spirited. Yugoslavs, moreover, have always shown the greatest sympathy for Greece and, unlike Bulgaria, have no claims against her.

People Restive. Thousand of \ugoslavs are demonstrating all over the country against capitulation to the Axis, says a message from Belgrade. Demonstrators in Belgrade and other towns sang the Serbian song; "Be ready to fight oppression." Crowds numbering 30,000 a.sseiwbled in the streets and cheered the Ministers who resigned.

One of the largest demonstrations was at Skoplje, where the crowd demanded •resistance to the Axis.

The army is restive because the Minister of War, General Mutilin Nedioh, has been reported as telling tihe Cabinet that the army is not "prepared for war. Troops continue to move steadily to the frontiers, but one of the key factors obviously is the attitude of the General Staff, which ultimately will determine whether the army is to be uSed to repel or condone an invasion.

The Sokol, or youth movement, the head of which is the young King Peter, and which has a membership of over 300,000, issued a manifesto demanding the sacrifice of everything before honour and freedom.

According to the Belgrade correspondent of the "Daily Mail" it has been revealed in authoritative diplomatic quarters that Greece has warned Yugoslavia that permission foe Germany to send hospital trains and war material across her territary would be regarded in Athens as a hostile act.

The Moscow radio said the shortage of food in Bulgaria was growing rapidly worse. Butter and margarine were rationed, the price of chickens was steadily rising, and beef had vanished.

The German Minister in Belgrade is urging the Yugoslav Government to sign an agreement immediately. "Berlin," lie states, "has taken note of the post|K>nement of the visit to Vienna."