MOVE IN BALKANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 96, 21 March 1940, Page 7

MOVE IN BALKANS

NEXT.TEW WEEKS. NEW YORK, Feb. 21. 'The Australian troops may go into action shortly, if information received by the Carnegie Institute from Europe is correct. Professor Nicholas Murray Butler, head of the institute, states that the basis of its reports is that Russia and Germany may move in the Balkans in the next few weeks. These reports indicate that Russia and Germany have renounced then original programmes for the. time being and reached a compromise by which tlie Soviet’s zone of influence includes East Rumania. Turkey and Bulgaria, while Germany’s is West Rumania, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Italy’s attitude is uncertain. If she decides to enter the combination she will have to be content with the Dalmatian coast and a protectorate over Greece, excluding Salonika, which will go to Germany. Professor Butler says lie considers that Russia and Germany have the advantages of contiguous territory and interior lines. Moreover, ns tlie Allies are not likely to vio!i,.e the neutrality of tlie Western neutrals. Hitler believes that small forces can Hold the Siegfried Bine, while the mass of tlie German armies is hurled against the Balkans.