BERLIN HINT

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 147, 16 March 1940, Page 11

BERLIN HINT

Secret Russo-Rumanian Talks CHANGE IN OUTLOOK? Economic Diplomacy Intensified (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, March 14. Encouraged by their own estimates of the diplomatic setback to the Allies resulting from the defeat of Finland, a Nazi spokesman, according to the Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain, hinted at another British and French disappointment because of a reported impending Russo-Rumanian accord to which secret negotiations in Berlin are leading. Both Nazi officials and members of the Rumanian Legation in Berlin suggest that the whole complexion of the international situation may change before next week. Meanwhile, Italian participation has intensified economic diplomacy. German sources report that negotiations for a trade agreement between Russia and Italy are nearing conclusion, while, according to the Rome radio a treaty dealing with Rumanian oil exports to Italy is to be signed shortly, whereupon a second Italian delegation is to go to Bucharest to negotiate a trade agreement to replace the present pact. A Bucharest message published yesterday reported that a Rumanian delegation, which includes high army officers, was in Berlin, where plans for a Russian-Rumanian non-aggres-sion pact were reported to be under consideration. DENIAL FROM ANKARA Reported Co-operation Move By Italy AIR CHIEF’S VISITS LONDON, March 14. Authoritative Turkish quarters deny any knowledge of the reported Italian proposal for co-operation with Turkey if the Soviet attacks the Balkans. Air Marshal Sir William Mitchell, Commander-in-Cliief of the British Air Force in the Middle East, and the commander of the French Air Force in the East, departed from Ankara after a visit of five days, during which valuable contacts were made with the Turkish General Staff. Sir William Mitchell and the French commander inspected the Turkish air base 140 miles west of Ankara. They were received by the President of Turkey. The chiefs of all British forces in the Middle East have visited the Turkish capital since August. DEFENCE TALKS General Wavell To Confer With General Smuts CAPE TOWN, March 14. The Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the Middle East, General Sir Archibald Wavell, is flying to the Cape to confer with the Prime Minister, General Smuts, on South African defence questions. He has already had similar conferences in Rhe dcsia and Kenya. ENEMY INTERESTS Efforts To Realize On Securities In Britain (Britisli Official W'ireloss.) RUGBY, March 14. A Stock Exchange notice, urgently warns members that there is. reason to believe that enemy interests are making strenuous efforts to realize oh securities here, and advises the. use of the utmost care before executing orders coming from neutral sources. . German note circulation for the first week in March was nearly half as large again as for the corresponding period last year. This fact shows how far Germany has gone along the dangerous road to inflation.