BRITISH NOTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 98, 25 March 1941, Page 5

BRITISH NOTE

YUGOSLAVIA REMINDED. ISSUES AT STAKE. LONDON, March 24. The British Government lias not yet revealed the text of a Note which the British Minister at Belgrade (Mr Ronald Campbell) has handed to Yugoshwia. The despatch of the Note was first reported by Reuter from Cairo, where the British Foreign Minister (Mr Eden) is at present. Official circles in Cairo state that they believe the Note points out Britain’s friendly attitude to Yugoslavia and pleads with her not to betray the past. It is pointed out that in following the example of Bulgaria and Rumania in joining the Tripartite Pact 6he would forfeit her independence. Reports from Yugoslavia state that opinion is hardening against signing any pact with the Axis, which would be’ against the true interests of the country. She has the choice of standing firm with Britain and Turkey or sharing the fate of Rumania and Bulgaria. There is no question 'of what the people themselves would choose. It is officially stated in Belgrade that two of the three Ministers who resigned as a protest against alignment with the Axis have been replaced, their successors having been sworn in, while the third has returned to office. PROTESTS TO REGENT. Information in London is to the effect that it is not clear whether Y’ ugoslavia lias yet been prevailed upon to sign any document. If she has, then Germany already has a foot inside the door. It is now clear that thousands of Yugoslavs are fully aware of the danger facing their country, and thousands of messages from abroad to Prince Paul (Senior Regent) express disgust at a policy of concession. The Patriarch of the Orthodox Church has summoned a meeting of the Episcopal Council for this week to consider the situation. The Patriarch I declares that a pact would mean the end of Yugoslavia.