ROUMANIA NEXT?

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1939, Page 7

ROUMANIA NEXT?

SOVIET INVASION FEARED

TROOPS ON FRONTIER

[BY CABLE —PRESS aSSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, December 8

A message from Budapest says that while M. Charanov, the new Soviet Minister to Hungary, presented his credentials to the Regent (Admiral Horthy), Ukrainian delegates in the Hungarian Parliament warned the Government that unless it gave them autonomy a strong movement might arise favouring the union of the Carpathian Ukraine with Russia. The Hungarian Nazis newspaper,

“Magyarsag” ■ declared that Germany could not be the guardian of Danubia, which must look to Italy for leader-, ship against the Bolshevist menace. » The Hungarian National Bank has suspended buying Roumanian lei This, it is believed, is a result of fears of a Russian-Roumanian conflict. The Rome radio says that Russian troops are massing on the Roumanian frontier.

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT.

(Received December 9, noon). MOSCOW, December 8. , It is officially announced that a special military district has been created in the Odessa’ region, along the Rus-sian-Roumanian frontier. This is considered significant, in view of recent indications that the Soviet might demand the return of Bessarabia.

DISPUTE WITH BULGARIA.

EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT,

PARIS, December 8. The foreign editor of “Paris Soir,” M. Jules Sauerwein, in . a message from Bucharest, says: “Roumania is wisely endeavouring to settle the Roumanian-Bulgarian dispute. The Bulgarians’ strongest argument, not openly expressed, is that Bulgaria could combine with Russia in an attack on two sides. When it is considered that the Hungarians have supported' Germany, the situation appears no less threatening. “It is really agreed that the Roumanians must make friends with at least one of their neighbours, and that strong British, French, and Turkish forces should be in readiness. “One section of opinion is comforted by the belief that Russia and Germany would never agree on a division of spoils; but the consequences of action, if it were not concerted, would be fatal to the Balkans.” M. Sauerwein adds: “The Balkans are beginning to see the necessity of sacrifices to attain solidarity. They are watching closely the movement towards regional or European federation. The Balkans are also beginning to understand that national sovereignty must retire in favour of common interests and security. “It is remarkable to see the spread of these ideas of economic and military accords, coupled with respect for' individual freedom. Evidently on these principles, the future of Europe must be built. 1 have found the main lines of this conception endorsed by five heads of south-eastern States with whom I recently conferred.”