THE UNEASY BALKANS.

Evening Star, Issue 23665, 27 August 1940, Page 6

THE UNEASY BALKANS.

Te.xsiox in the Balkans continues. Italy would like to strike at Greece, but her hand is stayed by considerations of prudence. Greece, since the war began, has acted with restraint. Maintaining strict neutrality, she has sought to remain on friendly terms with all her neighbours. Provoked by the sinking of a Greek mine-laying cruiser and the bombing by the Italians of two destroyers, she has so far avoided a direct breach with Rome. Mussolini has put forward claims for frontier revision on behalf of Albania at the expense of Greece. Generally' he has adopted a truculent attitude, and has whipped up the Fascist newspapers to his support. What are described as intimidating methods are being employed. In particular, the Axis Powers are trying to induce Greece to repudiate the British guarantee. In substance, this arrangement is that in the event of any action being taken which clearly threatens Greece’s independence, the British Government would feel bound at once to lend the Greek Government all the support in its power. The position of Turkey is similar. In October last in Ankara, a treaty was signed providing that Britain and France would go to tho help of Turkey if she was attacked by a European Power or was involved in war through an act of aggression Icadipg to war in the Mediterranean area; and that Turkey would go to the help of Britain and France if an act of aggression by a European Power involved them in war in the Mediterranean area. Persistent efforts have been made by von Papen, the German Ambassador in Ankara, to win the Turkish Government to the side of the Axis Powers. So far as can be judged, his attempts have failed. Another important point is that Turkey is pledged to assist Britain and France if they be engaged in war as a result of their guarantees to Greece and Rumania. In the opinion of a writer in the ‘ Round Table,’ the Greek people are fervently, unshakeably Anglophile. For Britain', he asserts, it is vital to have tho people of Greece on her side. In the last war Salonika was for the Allies a means of attacking the Central Powers at a weak point; in the present war Salonika may be one of Britain’s weak points, vital and urgent to defend. Its defence is urgent because Italy already has Albania, and because if Germany and Italy invaded Yugoslavia, the Yugoslav army would have to face the German army itself, not the inefficient and disaffected Austro-Hungarian army which it beat back in 1915. Its defence is urgent because if it falls the whole of Eastern Europe will be unable to resist, Greece and Turkey will be separated and perhaps immobilised, and British sea power in the Mediterranean will be further strained. There can be no doubt that Britain’s success in the air fighting has had an important reaction in the Balkans and the Near East. The claim for German invincibility is seen to be a myth, and the designs of the Axis Powers in south-east Europe have received a check. Recent developments seem to indicate that Rumania is showing more resistance to Axis pressure, while Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Bulgaria know full well that success for Germany and Italy in the war would see tho end of their careers as independent nations. Italy would have her aims to gain complete control of the Adriatic accomplished, while Germany would seize compensating advantages in the Danubiau area. There remains Russia. She is an enigma. No one can say what line the crafty Stalin will take.