TENSION HIGH FOR OMEN-STALIN TALKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 145, 21 June 1941, Page 7

TENSION HIGH FOR OMEN-STALIN TALKS

ARMY MANOEUVRES Rumanian Ships Ordered To Port United I'ress Association.— Copyright. Rec. noon. LONDON, June 20. It is now generally accepted in London that Hitler and Stalin are engaged in negotiations of great importance, with large forces arrayed close to their frontiers. It is confirmed that Germany has mustered very considerable forces along the whole of her eastern border antl that large-scale military exercises are proceeding in many western provinces of Russia. The Moscow radio has stated that the lessons of the Russo-Finnish war and the German campaign in the west are being applied in the present military exercises. The best fighting units have been sifted from the bulk of the Red Army and given special assignments. It is reported from Ankara that the captains of two Rumanian ships at Istanbul have been ordered to remain in harbour. All Rumanian ships sailing in the Black Sea have been ordered to put in immediately to Rumanian or Turkish ports. Finland has called up all men up to the age of 44. "The Times" diplomatic correspondent says the clearest sign of what the British Government thinks is the increasingly heavy bombing of tjie Ruhr and the invasion ports. A semi-official Japanese commentator, writing in the newspaper "Yomiuri" asserts that GermanSoviet tension is indisputable and cannot be overlooked by Japan. He adds that there is a possibility that it may have some effect on Japanese diplomacy, and that it is superfluous to say that Japanese policy cannot change with the changing world situation.