ELEVENTH-HOUR EFFORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 98, 25 March 1941, Page 6

ELEVENTH-HOUR EFFORT.

TO SAVE YUGOSLAVIA. BRITAIN'S FINAL WARNING. (Rec. 1.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 24. The Foreign Yliuister and Premier, MM. Tsvetkovitch and CincarMarkoviteh, left Belgrade for Germany at 10 p.m. Mr Ronald Campbell (British Ambassador) lias had a most important conference with the members of his legation, including the military, naval and air attaches. German troops continue to muster in the Struma Valley and some quarters believe an attack against Greece can be expected hourly. In Yugoslavia popular anger is riding high. The authorities have told the troops to stand by, with their rifles and machine-guns ready. Guests at a restaurant in Belgrade ordered the waiters not to accept German orders in the German language from “German tourists” and a fracas broke out before the police were called in. Eleventh-hour efforts to prevent Yugoslavia signing the Axis Pact have been made by Britain, Russia, Greece and Turkey. The British Minister’s Note to the Premier is a final warning. It declared Britain would not condone the signing of an agreement which would inevitably range Yugoslavia on the side of the Axis.

It is believed it declared that Yugoslavia could expect to be treated like Bulgaria and Rumania if she capitulated.

Germany put the utmost pressure on Moscow to delay the publication of flu: Russo-Turkish agreement on mutual non-intervention until Yugoslavia caved in.

The agreement provides that Russia will not embarrass Turkey if Turkey is involved in a war in defence of her •‘vital interests.”

It adds that Russia has no territorial claims on Turkey, nor designs on Hie Dardanelles. Turkey has replied in similar terms. Unofficial Turkish sources state that the agreement includes three secret clauses specifying the help which Russia will give Turkey even in a" war against Germany. Other quarters said Russia will assist Turkey in every way short of war. It is learned from Belgrade that Russia since March 1 has banned the export of oil to Germany. THREAT OF REVOLT. The Yugoslav people, as the news of Ihc Axis Pact leaks out, are demonstrating more and more violently. Montenegrin feeling is so high that it threatens an open revolt. The streets of Belgrade are strewn with pamphlets threatening the assassination of Government members who agreed to accept the Axis demands. The opposition extends even to Croatia, and is particularly strong in the army. The Government has replied to the demonstrations by clamping down the severest censorship, putting the troops in barracks under the eyes of their commanders, and banning public meetings.

More and more officers are offering their services to Greece. The latest deserters include lour Generals and three high officers of the King’s own guard. Reports arc circulating in Belgrade that M. Gabrilovitch (Yugoslav Minister to Moscow) may go to London to organise a “Loyal Yugoslav Committee" and eventually lead a Government recognised I>y Britain. •Hundreds of protests continue to pour in to Prince Paul and the Cab. met. All the Senators of the Agrarian Party and the Independent Democratic Party have resigned. The Democratic Party has demanded that the Government reveal to the people the German terms. The polic& have had to intervene to protect Germans at a number of antiAxifi meetings in the streets.