NAZI HEEL ON HUNGARY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 7

NAZI HEEL ON HUNGARY

Possible Guerrilla Resistance GERMAN THREATS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, March 23. An official statement issued in Berlin says that the German action in Hungary was necessary in order to prevent a repetition of the Badoglio betrayal. It was also necessary to solve the Jewish problem with the utmost vigour as Germany was unable to defend south-east Europe while one million Jews were living in Hungary in the rear of the German forces. The new Hungarian Government under Sztojay held its first meeting today, ■when questions of the highest importance were discussed for three hours, says the Hungarian news radio said that the new Hungarian Ministers were swoin m by Admiral Horthy yesterday. All are noted pro-Gerinans, and they aie mostlj from the lower ranks of polities or official lif A German spokesman, addressing the Arrow Cross party leaders and. the leaders of the German minority, said that it the politicians were unable to form a trustworthy Cabinet in a Position to guarantee the loyal support of the broad masses of the Hungarian people, the German military command would form a Hungarian-German military administration and -place the whole of Hungary under martial law.

“Beggars of Hungary.” Hungary today is completely cut off from the outside world. Radio and telegraphic communication between bweuen and Hungary has been cut off since yesterday afternoon. Reports from the Partisan headquarters in Yugoslavia says that 3,000,000 “Beggars of Hungary”, are combining into what may develop into a Hungarian army of liberation. This army is being composed of about equal numbers or small farmers, peasants, and workers from what is generally known as the poorest country in central Europe. They are rallying in the mountains in the east and south of Hungary, preparatory . to armed insurrection against the Nazis. The Hungarian army of liberation has received promises of arms, aibmunition» and supplies from the Yugoslav Army. The Hungarians will probably be joined shortly by 5000 Hungarian guerrillas who have been fighting with the Yugoslavs and who have received permission to join up with their own nationals. The German Foreign Office spokesman denied over Berlin radio a report that the Hungarian Premier, Dr. Kallay, had escaped to southern Hungary, and that his Government had sent an SOS abroad. He also denied that Horthy, the Regent, was a prisoner at Koenigsberg, that three members of the Hungarian Legation in Berlin had been arrested, and that Marshal Tito, the Yugoslav guerrilla, leader, had made contact with Hungarian detachments. The report concerning Dr. Kallay was smuggled out of Hungary by Kallay himself, according to a usually wellinformed sou'ree which was quoted by Reuter’s correspondent at Zurich. Kallay is stated to have denied that he resigned and to have declared that he did not intend to resign. He contended, that the German appointment of a quisling successor was illegal, and finally said he had been forced to leave Budapest to avoid arrest, but that he. was still in Hungary organizing resistance against the Germans.

GERMANS’ PUPPETS Repudiation Abroad LONDON. March 23. The Hungarian Legation in Stockholm announced that it has broken off relations with the Budapest Government. The Minister described the new regime as an open dictatorship based on German bayonets and as a quisling band of malefactors. . The military attache, Lieut.-Colonel Kobor. his assistant, and also his secretary, have dissociated themselves from this declaration by the Minister. The Hungarian Legation at Borne, Switzerland, has refused to acknowledge the puppet Government.

FLOUTED ADVISERS

King Peter’s Marriage May Endanger Throne

LONDON, March 23. The marriage of King Peter of Yugoslavia may cost him his. throne, London observers say. He defied the leader of the Yugoslav Army of Liberation and the virtual Premier of Yugoslavia, Marshal Tito, and many other Yugoslav leaders were also strongly opposed to the marriage. He has also caused a breach with his mother, Queen Marie, who refused to attend the ceremony. Yugoslav officials say that King Peter over-rode all advice and made the arrangements for his wedding himself. He ordered the flowers and the wedding breakfast suddenly at the weekend. In addition, he flouted his advisers to such an extent that a military representative of General Mikhailovitch, the Yugoslav Chetnik leader, was invited to be present. This was taken to be an obvious gesture against Marshal Tito. It is reported in London today that Marshal Tito has already taken steps to freeze the Yugoslav gold reserves of £20,000,000 from which King Peter is financed.