Italian Guarantee To Hungary

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1940, Page 7

Italian Guarantee To Hungary

Aid Against Attack By Nazis , Reds

(Received 1 p.m.)

LONDON, January S. THE BRITISH UNITED PRESS CORRESPONDENT AT BUDAPEST HAS LEARNED ON THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY THAT THE HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (COUNT CSAKY) ‘AND THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (COUNT CIANO) CONCLUDED A DEFENSIVE MILITARY ALLIANCE, DESIGNED TO ASSURE HUNGARY OF ITALY’S SUPPORT AGAINST AGGRESSION FROM EITHER RUSSIA OR GERMANY.

It is understood Yugoslavia is unwilling to join an outright alliance, but is prepared to enter a triple friendship pact, under which, it is presumed. Italy will lie permitted to move troops across her territory.

Tt is expected that Count Csaky will submit the text to the Crown Council at Budapest tomorrow, after which he will go to Rome to sign the Pact.

Urges Reconciliation With Hungary. Count Ciano is stated to have urged Hungary to seek at least a temporary agreement with Rumania, in connection with their Transylvanian minorities.

It is reported from Bucharest that M. Gafenco is now planning a visit to Count Ciano to discuss Italy’s efforts to reconcile Hungarian and Rumanian differences.

The alliance of Hungary and Italy is reported to be due to fears of a Russian move in SouthEastern Europe, and also to disturbing reports that Germany, dissatisfied with Rumania’s refusal to send greater quantities ,of food and war materials, is considering a march across Hungary" to Rumania.

It is also stated that Germany is seeking a defensive frontier deep in the Balkans, because it is feared that Britain, France and Turkey are planning to create an eastern front. Csaky Agrees.

It is authoritatively stated that Count Csaky agreed to Count Ciano’s suggestion to postpone territorial claims from neighbour Powers to a more opportune moment, in order to avoid jeopardising peace in SouthEast Europe, says the Rome correspondent of the British United Press.