GERMAN MOVES IN BALKANS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 9

GERMAN MOVES IN BALKANS

Instructions Given To Rumania SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS (UXITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received July 30, 2.2 p.m.) LONDON, July 29. Germany is reported to have given Rumania until September 15 to settle territorial claims with Hungary and Bulgaria, otherwise a German settlement will be imposed. Official quarters in Bucharest indicated that Rumania is willing to cede to Hungary a narrow strip of Transylvania. It was stated that the Government would propose that Hungary content herself with the cities of Saturn are, Oradea, Arad, and surrounding areas. There would be an exchange of populations in other districts.' The official Italian Agency states that the Balkan Ministers’ talks with Herr Hitler concerned the general principles on which Hungary, Bulgaria, and Rumania could negotiate directly on territorial claims. An official announcement stated that the principle established during the Salzburg talks was that Rumania should open discussions with the countries directly concerned in the maintenance of peace in south-eastern Europe. It is officially stated in ’ Bucharest that Rumania has agreed in principle to reach an understanding with Bulgaria and Hungary on-the basis of the proposed consultations. The Bulgarian, Rumanian and Slovak Ministers have returned to their respective countries. The Rumanian Premier'(M. Gigurtu) said: “We were received in the friendliest manner at Salzburg and Rome.” Well-informed circles in Bucharest declared that the Council of Ministers would initiate discussions with Bulgaria and Hungary dealing with economic and cultural relations, besides territorial disputes. It was added that

there was a conviction that no territorial changes would be made until the end of the war. It is generally believed that the Russian-German policy of mutual understanding ended with the Russian occupation of Bessarabia. Henceforth the Soviet • policy will be mainly opportunist and influenced largely by the degree to which Germany commits herself in a total offensive against Britain. The Bulgarian Premier (M. Filov) in Sofia, described the conversations with Herr Hitler as extremely pleasant. He added: “Now everyone knows Bulgaria’s just territorial claims.” Dr. Sano Mach, the Propaganda Minister in Slovakia, said: “We Slovaks were the first people co-ordinated in the struggle for realisation by the inspired plans of the Fuehrer.” The “National refers to Slovakia’s “successful solution” of her problems. “She remains independent politically, economically, and culturally,” it states. “Her free co-operation with Germany can be regarded in many aspects as a model for the future cooperation between the States of Central Europe.” The German official news agency stated that the Rumanian Minister of War has ordered mines to be laid in the estuary of the Danube. A message from Rome states that the Italian-Rumanian talks resulted in a joint company being formed to undertake the reconstruction of Rumania s communications and roads. ECONOMIC ORDER IN EUROPE NAZI PLANS NOT WELL RECEIVED (BBITISH OFFICIAL ■WIRELESS.) RUGBY. July 29. The exposition by the Nazi Minister for Economic Affairs CDr. Funk) of schemes for a new economic order in Europe have not had a very favourable press comment in the countries where comment is still free, according to the summaries reaching London. The Swiss newspaper "Democrat” says: “Many economists consider that driving Britain from Europe and the construction of a separate European bloc would precipitate the haemorrhage of a dying continent” which represents, in the view of experts here, a very shrewd view of the facts. A Norwegian journal says; “Swedish and Danish papers write regarding this, that their countries’ culture is inseparably bound up with the old democratic tradition and the same can be said of Norway. We Norwegians have been accustomed for generations to think and talk'freely, and ourselves to choose who shall administer our affairs. If we lose these democratic rights we lose our culture's kernel. Perhaps we have not paid heed to the value of the free word and free criticism as we ought. We regard them as a matter of course,' but if we were one day to lose them a stoi-m of indignation would burst forth.” British By-Election.— -In the Wansbeck by-election Mr Robert Donald Scott (Conservative) was returned unopposed to succeed Colonel B. Cruddas, who had resigned,—London, July 29.