MARSEILLES CRIME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 7

MARSEILLES CRIME

YUGOSLAVIA DELIVERS NOTE.

PROTEST BY HUNGARY. AGAINST IMPLICATION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received November 24, 9.30 a.m. BUDAPEST, Nov. 23. A’ Government statement emphatically protests against the Yugoslav Note to the League as a sequel to- the Marseilles murders, implicating Hungary, and repudiates the charge of complicity in King Alexander’s murder. It points out that the Yugoslav Government has not communicated with Hungary regarding the alleged proofs of complicity, otherwise they would readily have been refuted. Yugoslavia’s action, therefore, is characterised as illegitimate and endangering the peace of Europe, for which the Hungarian Government demands immediate and impartial League investigation. M. Gombos, vigorously replying to the Yugoslav Note, declares that it is merely a continuation of the anti-Hun-garian Press campaign directed with the intention to discredit and intimidate Hungary, and paralyse her efforts to maintain her own existence. In a thousand years Hungary had not known murder as a weapon. _ She would welcome every investigation, particularly as the military strength of Yugoslavia and her friends endangers European peace. PROTEST TO THE LEAGUE. THE YUGOSLAV NOTE. GENEVA, Nov. 22. The Yugoslav Note has been handed to the League in connection with the assassinations of King Alexander and M. Barthou. It says the inquiry demonstrates that these were organised and executed with the participation of terrorist elements who had taken refuge in Hungary and continued to enjoy the complicity with which the crime was filially perpetrated. The Hungarian authorities’ responsibility for aiding and supporting the terrorism of Yugoslav emigres was absolutely clear.

Yugoslavia expresses faith in the efficaciousness of the League as the guardian of peace and asks that the responsible persons involved be denounced before the highest organ of the international community. The Czechoslovakian and Roumanian Ministers are submitting Notes supporting Yugoslavia. Many ask, ill view of the toning down the Yugoslavian Note, what the original draft was like. One deleted passage said that Yugoslavia had to choose between war and an appeal to the League, and decided on the latter course.

Herr Ekhardt, Hungary’s League representative, expressed satisfaction that the matter had been brought to the notice of the League and emphasised the need for urgency, in clearing it up. He expressed surprise and indignation at the campaign of vilification against Hungary and at the Yugoslav attempt to impugn Hungary’s fair name. He formally protested against these calumnies as international terrorism against a country which, being disarmed, was an easy prey. ■ • ITALIAN COMMENTS. ROME, Nov. 22. “From the mountain has emerged the mouse,” declares the Tribuna, commenting on Yugoslavia’s decision merely to send a letter, to the League regarding the assassinations. The Giornale d’ltalia regrets that the whole matter is not being discussed openly at Geneva inasmuch as European Governments too long have turned a blind eye to European dangers. WORLD WAR RECALLED. STATUE OF MURDERER. (Times Cables.) LONDON, Nov. 22. Writing from Oxford, Mr H. L. Henderson, in a letter to the Times, suggests that Yugoslavia would strengthen her case against the encouragement of political assassinations before the League if she demolished the Serajevo memorial to the murderer whose action started the World War.