BALKAN SITUATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1939, Page 7

BALKAN SITUATION

RECENT EVENTS REVIEWED PEACE EFFORTS BY ITALY [by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] NEW YORK, December 9. European correspondents of the “New York Times” analytically picture political and military scene 3n a series of despatches exploring the relationship of last week’s events with the Baltic and Balkan States, • Germany and Italy. Mr: G. E.< R. Gedye, -from Moscow, says: “Italy ,is initiating effoits for a speedy' peace among Britain, France, and Germany almost on-any terms, so as to switch the \viar. : ap attack on the Soviet, but Lord Halifax has shown that Britain is taking no heed of this move, being determined to concentrate on the overthrow of Herr Hitler, before considering other dangers.

“Apparently Lord Halifax felt that Italy is playing Herr Hitler’s game to scare the Allies to accept, a Hitlerian peace. This is certainly the game the German agents in Moscow are playing, among the neutrals. It may be that knowledge of these manoeuvres has speeded the Soviet aggressive policies. It is certainly hastening defensive preparations along the length of the new Russian-German frontiers.”

Mr. Gedye refers to the reported Russian demand for Bessarabia and says that Roumania has already surrendered Bessarabia in all but • name s Qualified observers last week not’d that it was unfortified, with no soldiers in the whole province, and that the Roumanians were liquidating their affairjs. Simultaneously Roumania was strengthening her fortifications on the river Prutu. ■ He adds: “It is unlikely that the Soviet would help. Hungary to obtain Transylvania at the price of the surrender of Hungary’s recent Carpathian "•ains, which she is incapable of defending, but a Russian Bukovina with Bulgaria tied to Russia through the gift of Dobruja will finally wreck Germany’s Balkan ambitions. Such a partition of Roumania will open the way to a Russian extension, to, the Mediterranean through and Jugoslavia. The possibility of Italian and Turkish resistance, and the more remote chance of a Russian-German breach are doubtless the reason why ®the programme is not proclaimed, but the Comintern has tested the atmosphere.” The Rome correspondent, of the

‘New York Times,”. emphasising the :endency toward Balkan unity in the ’ace of Russian; threats, interprets he Fascist Grand Council’s reaffirma-

tion of the axis as offering Germany an ally against Russia in the Balkans if wanted, but he believes that Italy might not declare war on Russia if Roumania were attacked, adding that there are other ways of waging war, RUSSIAN AGGRESSION Mr. Otto D. Tolischus, the Berlin correspondent of the “New York Times,” says the prospect of further Russian aggression in Scandinavia is causing Germany to shudder at the speed and thoroughness of her partner in learning the imperialistic game, and the consequences of it to Germany.

He adds: “Even the most coldblooded ‘Realpoltiker’ is beginning to look askance at Russian expansion because first, she has taken the political and diplomatic initiative from Germany, as the Maginot Line and the .British Fleet have taken the military initiative; second, it increases : the strain on Russian industrial transport and raw material resources, reducing Germany’s chances, of getting .Russian supplies; third, the'Russian-Finnish war threatens to convert the' whole Baltic into a war theatre, imperilling German supplies of Swedish ore; fourth, the further Russian influence expands, the more.. Russia.. . controls Germany’s land-routed trade, '• as Britain controls the sea-routed trade.”

The Copenhagen correspondent of the “New York Times” says Sweden is nearer war than at any time-since 1914, when the Russians were ready to attack Stockholm. Significantly, neither Sweden nor Norway has joined Denmark’s neutrality declaration, but their aid to Finland isf likely to be confined to finance, arms','and volunteers. Germany’s attitude is an unfathomable riddle. Swedish naval and military authorities-are disappointed and resentful that the traditional friendship towards the Reichswehr is turning ice-cold. The Budapest correspondent' of the “New York Times” says it is authoritatively stated that Hungary will oppose militarily a German attempt, to cross Hungary southward or eastward. The correspondent is .convinced that Italians would bepermitted to cross Jugoslavia to a Hungary. Direct German action is possible if Russia began to be rampant in the Balkans. If Russia entered Jtoumariia, it is believed, a German force would go to Roumania through Rusian Poland... ■

Hungary would welcome a pact with Italy and JugqsTaVia,• but fears that it would tend to Isolate Roumania and tempt Bulgaria into a. move against the D.obruja. Hungary hopes that an Allied victory will leave a strong Germany to balance Russia in Central Europe or both; Russia y,arid Germany may be Hungary fears eventual dynamism. Which may seek, to unite all the Slavs in Central and Eastern Europe, leaving . sma.!'. Magyar and Roumanian... islands.