CLOSE WATCH BY LONDON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 118, 12 February 1941, Page 7

CLOSE WATCH BY LONDON

Eve Of Possible Enemy Moves THREE ARENAS Balkans, Far East And North Europe

(British Official Wireless.) Received February 11.7 p.m. RUGBY, February 10. The endorsement by the Prime Minister in his broadcast address of Sir John Dill’s warning that strategic, economic and political stress in Europe may force Hitler to attempt an mvasmn of Britain in the near future has focused attention in the Press on the diplomatic as well as military adventures in which the Nazis are engaged in various parts of the world. A belief is growing that if an invasion is in fact attempted it will not be an isolated adventure.

The developments in Italy make it increasingly clear that Germany, with her growing grip on Italy, recognizes the importance of balancing a movement in northern Europe with ah attempt to disturb Britain’s supremacy in the Mediterranean.

In the phase of greater violence which, in the view of Mr. Churchill, r the war is entering there is no longer any serious attempt on the part of Germany .to disguise the fact that preparations for a movement of German troops into or through the Balkans is contemplated. The developments in Rumania have reached a stage at which the withdrawal of the British Minister at Bucharest has been deemed necessary, and the significance of Mr. Churchill’s statement that Bulgaria’s airfields are being occupied by German ground personnel needs no emphasis. Contemporaneously with these developments the German efforts to make use of Japan to aid the Nazi

plans are being persistently pressed regardless of the fact that if her Far Eastern partner accedes to the pressure it will spell ruin for Japan. There is abundant evidence that these efforts in the diplomatic field are directed toward urging a friendlier relationship between Russia and Japan as a preliminary to a Japanese drive southward.

Though in London it is well known, that the more sober elements in Japan are deeply disturbed at the prospects, the truculence of the attitude of certain Ministers toward the United States and Britain has at times, since the signing of the tripartite agreement, displayed a recklessness which suggests that the full dangers of the situation are not fully appreciated in 1 okio. It is a situation which is being carefully watched in London. Complete confidence is felt that any development that may occur as a result of yielding by the Japanese to the Nazi pressure will not find Britain unprepared.