NEUTRALS CHECK NAZI PLOTTERS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 9

NEUTRALS CHECK NAZI PLOTTERS

Preventing Betrayals

From Within

UNREST IN BALKANS

Army And Naval Activity Reported

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copvright.)

Received April 18, 8.30 p.m. LONDON, April IS. Special measures to prevent a repetition of the Norwegian betrayals from within have been adopted in the low countries, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Rumania, Turkey and Switzerland. Several Dutch Nazi leaders are reported to have been arrested. There are reports of Rumanian and Russian troop movements to the Bessarabian frontier and of activity by the Russian and Turkish fleets. Italy has declared Bari, its naval base on the Adriatic, a prohibited area. News has come of a move to improve relations between Yugoslavia and Russia.

The Belgian Premier, M. Spaak, speaking in. the Chambei of Representatives, said the Government was reinforcing passport control and re-establishing visas for travellers from Holland and Luxemburg. More men have been called up to. guard strategic points. The Swedish Riksdag passed emergency measures tor combating espionage and sabotage, enforcing complete censorship and empowering the detention of suspected persons.. A Swiss decree for the suppression of espionage has been revised. Sentries have been posted at public buildings in the large cities. The police caught a man posting a mailbag full of German propaganda. He said that he was acting under orders from the German Consulate, claimed diplomatic immunity, and was released. The Yugoslavian Government is revising the residential permits of all foreigners living in Belgrade. Thousands of undesirable aliens will be leaving the country in the next 10 days. The measure is interpreted as a move to check recent Nazi propaganda and espionage, including the distribution of anti-Allied leaflets. A house-to-house search was made in several towns close to the German border. In Belgrade there are severe measures against foreigners who spread false news. Half a million Germans are at present residing in Yugoslavia. 700,000 in Rumania, and 500,000 in Hungary. Nlearly all are

organized into Nazi societies. The move to improve relations between Yugoslavia and Russia is to take the form of a commercial mission to Moscow to negotiate a new trade agreement. The announcement has caused surprise in Belgrade. It is believed that the two countries are paving the way for a resumption of diplomatic relations after a breach lasting 23 years. Rumania has issued a decree ordering the registration of males living in military zones. An abnormal iullux of Germans is reported to be responsible for the decree. Suspects have been evacuated from the seaports. Tile Lower Chamber passed a Bill providing for extraordinary measures to control the ports. It is now before the Senate. The passage of the Bill will probably prevent Germany from obtaining the seven free ports agreed upon in March last year. The Senate provisionally accepted a Bill giving Germany a 30-year concession in three important Moldavian forests, comprising 100,000 acres of timber.

More Rumanian regiments are reported to have entrained for Bessarabia. Russia is believed to he transferring veteran troops from the north to the Bessarabian frontier. The Russian Black Sea fleet is reported to have laid mines off Odessa and Batum. The Turkish fleet is reported to be steaming through the Sea of Marmora, near Gallipoli.

The Turkish Government lias decided to exiiel a large number of foreign undesirables, and the authorities are investigating the activities of increasing batches of central Europeans disguised as merchants, cabaret performers, etc. It is reported from Ankara that a French military mission from Syria has arrived at Ankara for talks with the Turkish General Staff. A decree issued in Rome empowers the calling up of four classes previously rejected but re-examined and pronounced tit for service. The Italian action in declaring Bari a prohibited area has started more speculation and rumours in the Balkans. There are also further reports of Italian fleet manoeuvres in the Mediterranean. Italian official circles are silent. The Italian manoeuvres are being watched with the closest interest in Turkey, where the Press is emphasizing the need for vigilance. A Balkan radio station claimed that part of the Turkish fleet has sailed for the Aegan Sea, but it is not supported in any other quarter. (Received April 18, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 18. The news that Bari is a prohibited area is not published in the Italian Press. The reason given is that gunnery practice is being carried out. It was from Bari that the Italians sailed a year ago to invade Albania.