Activity in the Balkans

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23085, 30 July 1940, Page 6

Activity in the Balkans

The conferences on Balkan affairs which have taken place in Salzburg and Berchtesgaden, to : the accompaniment of rumours of German and Russian troop movements in eastern Europe, have been the subject of many hypqtheses. The hypothesis that is certainly wrong is that Germany, finding that the projected direct attack on Great Srltaln is a more formidable undertaking than was at first supposed, is Contemplating a resumption of her drive to the south-east. Nothing that has happened in the last week gives any reason to suppose that the policy Germany has followed ih the Balkans since the outbreak of war Hfis been changed. That policy is based on the simple fact that the Balkans are Gerihost important source of supply for food -and raw materials and must therefore be kept docile and at peace; that is, the quarrels qt the Balkan States must not be allowed to issue in war and yet must be kept sufficiently alive to prevent them from consolidating in opposition to German political and economic penetration. The balance thus preserved is necessarily a precariou&bne and was severely shaken by the Russian seizure of Bessarabia, which inflamed the irtldentist ambitions of Hungary and. Bulgaria. -Apart from the actual threat of war, extensive, troop mobilisations in Hungary, Rumania, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, have seriously inthe productive capacity of these countrpS. The meetings at Salzburg and BerchtSSgadefa need no other explanation than Germaiayfi desire to demobilise the Balkan peas- ■ antry. what happened at these meetings ttieto' is no official information; but the ■; frprp Hat.oi the countries concerned arid the pro** are some Clue to the general ' -representatives Of the Rumanian Govermoßedt'Were summoned to Salzburg because, kqmania has been driven to the desperate iaerman protection against i- by Russia and against the banffiiSS'qf Jier Balkah neighbours, The repre- ■ . _