GERMANY AND BALKANS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1941, Page 7

GERMANY AND BALKANS

TROOPS IN RUMANIA I - ■ RESENTMENT INCREASING [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, January 14. No light can be thrown on the report that the Rumanian Prime Minister (General Antonescu) has been summoned to Berlin. Rumanian and German officials Mn Bucharest deny the report, but the Bucharest correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that General Antonescu has already left the capital in a special train, which is said to be on the way to Berlin. The correspondent adds that the Rumanian General Staff is becoming restive about the size of the German army of instruction. Three German divisions are stationed in the Dobruja, immediately north of Bulgaria. From Sofia it is announced that the Bulgarian Government has denied that any foreign troops are entering Bulgaria, or that any approaches have been made by any foreign Government. The Bulgarian radio announced to-night that the 1941 class of conscripts, due to be called up bn March 1, must report to the local military commands to-morrow. • The Ankara radio announced that the Rumanian Ministry of Marine had declared that Rumanian territorial waters are a danger zone. No reason was given.

RUSSIAN POLICY. RUGBY, January 14. The categorical terms in which the Soviet Government through the official Tass News Agency denied that the question of German troops m Bulgaria had ever been raised with Moscow are. noted and fully accepted in Britain,and no other implications are read into the announcement. It is not regarded as a sensational' challenge to Germany, and there is no disposition in official quarters to discuss where Soviet interests lie in regard to the matter. . The incident is examined against the background of recent history in certain newspapers, and although the “Manchester Guardian” expresses the view that “it almost looks as if a showdown between Germany and the Soviet Union can hardly be avoided in the near future,” this is not shared elsewhere.' The “Daily Mail” regards it as at most a note of discord, adding: We should not, however, interpret this sharp comment as further evidence of strained relations. Rumours of dissension between Moscow and Berlin should be treated with reserve, and their source should be regarded with suspicion. It cannot.be too often emphasised that Russia has no interest in ending this war quickly; Certainly she has no intention of coming into it herself. She is not out to help Britain, and those who believe the contrary inhabit a fools paradise.”

OIL FOR GERMANY '• ■' " LONDON, January 14. It is revealed in Bucharest that Germany imported 1,450,000 tons of oil from Rumania in 1940, compared with 1,285,000 tons in 1939. BULGARIAN-TURKISH PACT (Recd. January 16, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. Bulgaria is reported to be seeking a military pact with Turkey, with the aim of preventing any German attempt to march in. Diplomatic circles at Istanbul state that * negotiations have been taking place for a Turkish-Bulgarian nonaggression pact. The negotiations are said to be far advanced. It is felt that Bulgaria, menaced by the German troops massed in Rumania, wishes the negotiations to culminate in something still closei. “The Times’s” correspondent says it is considered almost certain that Bulgaria will not be in a position to oppose a direct move by the German armies in Rumania. Almost all well-informed circles are inclined to the belief that a German occupation of Bulgaria is imminent, also that M. Filoff, last Sunday, tried to show the world that the Bulgarian Government and people are opposed to this. ANGLO-TURKISH TALKS. RUGBY, January 15. M. Sarajoglu yesterday received Admiral Sir Howard Kelly, Lieuten-ant-General Sir James Marshall Cornwall!, and Air Vice-Marshal Elmhurst, who are representing the Middle East Command at the Ankara conversations.