NEW PACT LIKELY

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 January 1937, Page 12

NEW PACT LIKELY

YUGOSLAVIA & THE BALKANS

LONDON, December 31.

A development of the deepest significance to Europe is foreshadowed by an official admission in Belgrade that negotiations are in progress between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria for a pact of friendship and non-aggression. It is believed that the pact will be signed in the near future. The Belgrade correspondent of the ■‘Daily Telegraph” learns that the pact will guarantee the present frontiers of the two States and arrange for political and economic co-operation, rhe agreement, it is considered, will be the, first step towards Bulgaria joining the Balkan Entente, which at present is composed of Yugoslavia, Roumania, Turkey, and Greece. King Boris’s decision to conclude a treaty of friendship with a neighbour against whom Bulgaria fought so many wars may prove a decisive move not only for Bulgaria but for the whole of the Balkans. Hitherto, Bulgaria, under pressure from the Macedonians, whose territory was taken from Bulgaria and given to Yugoslavia after the Great War, flatly refused to recognise the present frontiers. When the late King Alexander visited Sofia and made overtures to King Boris for the conclusion of a pact, he was told that there was not the slightest reason for Bulgaria to abandon her claims for the revision of the peace treaty and for the return of Macedonia. Now tire situation seems to have entirely changed.' Evidently under Italian pressure, Bulgaria is now ready to make peace with Yugoslavia in tlie hope of receiving economic and political support and a guarantee, that Macedonian minorities under Yugoslav rule will be granted better conditions. ... ~ . The new Italian policy ot friendship with Yugoslavia is clearly apparent as one of the main motives behind Bulgaria’s change of attitude, just as it is perceived in Hungary’s efforts to establish better relations with Y ugoslavia. Both Bulgaria and Hungary are largely under Italian influence. Germany also favours reconciliation, as she has good relations with both countries. In these circumstances, other members of the Little and Balkan Entente are far from enthusiastic over the reconciliation. The Roumanian Government is reported to have approved the conclusion of the pact only provided Yugoslavia guarantees that the agreement will not be directed against Roumania. Greece is opposing the pact unless she receives formal guarantees that the alliance between Greece and Yugoslavia will not be affected. Czechslovakia also regards the agreement with mistrust. Turkey alone views it favourably.

REACTIONS LN THE BALKANS

The Vienna correspondent of “The Times” states: “The reactions of Yugoslavia’s associates in the Balkan Pact must be awaited. They are all in possession of territory affected by Bulgaria’s revisionist claims and the great attraction of the Balkan Pact to them is presumably that it obliges all four signatories jointly to oppose any attempt at revision of the Balkan frontiers. In effect it puts an iron ring round Bulgaria and thus places peace in the Balkans on a firm basis, although on a basis of restraint by overwhelming force. If any change in this position were made, they might be expected to prefer it should be by Bulgaria’s joining the Balkan Pact and thus putting peace on a basis of all-round voluntary collaboration. This presumably is too much to expect from Bulgaria. Whether Yugoslavia’s three associates will welcome an arrangement denoting Bulgaria’s tacit acceptance of one of her four frontiers and putting Yugoslavia under an obligation of non-aggression which might conflict with her obligation of mutual assistance remains to be seen.”