GERMAN GUARANTEE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1939, Page 7

GERMAN GUARANTEE

REPORTED TO ROUMANIA

-HUNGARIAN DISAPPOINTMENT (by. oAHhtt—t*Kh,bb ASSN.I—COPYBLGHId NEW YORK,, December 9. 3 It is understood that an accord be- - tween Germany and Roumania was r concluded a month ; ago, although - usually well-informed . Roumanians i appear to have beep unaware;of it i Hungary’s Foreign Office, however,, is convinced; 'that the’ report ,i? .correct. , Hungarian officials are most distnrbi ed, because it ■ seems that this accord . means the doom of Hungary’s . asbira- > tions to recover Transylvania.. If,, it i is true, it explains Roumania’s. firui- > ness in announcing, her determination : to defend her territory. . -J- •• It also indicates that all i; is;< ,not ■ well between- Russia and Gerfnany. • Trouble between Russia and Ro'umania is not expected, unless Russia, is ready to face Germany’s active dis- : approval.. It is believed that Germany is seeking to direct Russians’ antbitions against Turkey. Hungarians fear that Russia will use the Bulgarian, the Pan-Slavic, the Communist, and the Revisionist nidye- ■ mdiits to stir up a 'dispute over .Dobruja (the port of Roumania formerly belonging to. Bulgaria), thus doublecrossing Germany. It is not clear, how the alleged German guarantee to'Rdumania: would operate in such .circumstances.'j The Budapest correspondent of the “New York Times” refers to the-re-port that Germany has given’a . guarantee of the frontiers,, except Roumania’s fronfier with Bulgaria (the Dobrudja riegion). ~ ‘' The correspondent,, says: The guarantee which Germany has given Roumania provides for exchange and economic concessions.” ' He continues: “The Hungarian Foreign Office b,elieves that the guarantee given includes the provinces' of Bessardbia, Bukovina and Transylvania (the ; last-named’ k formerly. Hungarian territory). In exchange for . her guarantee, Germany* has been, proffiised access-to as much oil and" grain . as she needs. AGREEMENT DENIED. , / —— ' i' LONDON, December 10. The ; Bucharest representative of the British Associated Press says: Official circles deny there is a German agreement with Roumania,' as .reported from Budapest. • SOVIET DISOWNS THREAT. '? ' MOSCOW, December ,9.; The Soviet Foreign Office Press De* partment states that the -article published in the “Communist International,” on December 6, threatening Turkey and Roumania, does not represent the views of the Soviet Government. : SCEPTICISM IN BRITAIN RUGBY, December 9. ■ The Soviet assurance to Roumania has received due attention in: official quarters here, but there is an. “In- • • clination to regard-as: a. more./ adequate commentary on the Soviet Government’s real intentions the . fact that, at exactly the same, time as it was assuring Roumania of its friend-’ ly intentions, it actually constituted a new special military district for Odessa.

It seems possible, in the view of informed observers, that the Soviet’s real reason for giving assurances was that the Soviet forces had received ah unexpected setback in their? attack on Finland, which has necessitated some delay in putting the Soviet plans against Roumania into operation. ..

TRADE CONCESSIONS TO NAZIS

LONDON, December 9.

. The “Daily Mail’s” Bucharest correspondent says: In continuing the German-Roumanian trade talks, Herr Clo.diushas abandoned. the; . .demand for the devaluatiomof/the' lei- Roumania’ has agreed to ‘reduce the price of her oil and to increase :the?pfice of the manufactures that receives from Germany. : V ’ ‘ tte. . . BRITISH SUBJECTS ARRESTED. .'<■ LONDON, December 10. According to a Berlin message, the Geman radio announced that twc British subjects were arreted on the Roumaniah .dilfields; on* charges of sabotage.,..’ f'., / -

ROME—BERLIN AXIS.

NEW YORK,; December 8. The Rome correspondent of , the “New York Times” says: “The Fascist. Grand ....Council communique strengthens Italy’s non-belligerency, but it recognises, at the, same time that there is grave danger in the Balkans. The communique emphasises ,the .pro-German syjnpathies of Italy, but' these, are likely-tp be more platonic than real. “In a reference to the Rome-Berlin Axis, the communique declares that the relations will remain as they, were fixed by the Milan-Salzburg-Berlin conversations. That presumably, includes the last interview’ at Berlin when Count Ciario (Italian Foreign Minister) is supposed to have announced that Italy intended to non-belligerent, and that it would be useless for Herr Hitler to. ask Italy for direct support, for which reason the present re-affirmation means little.” '

The correspondent adds: “Germany gains nothing, but the conclusion -is that the Allies have lost. This is inescapable. .There is even possible an Italian-German alliance. This may take an active form in the . Balklrns, where the German interests are at least equal to the Italian interests. Logically, Germany would hav.e to join Itaiy in opposing Russia in the Balkans, repeating the Spanish situs!-, tion on a larger scale. Many believe that the Fascist Grand Council’s .warning has been timed to threaten Rimsia with this coalition of Italy, and Germany regarding the Balkans.”