BALKANS BAITING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18499, 8 September 1923, Page 9

BALKANS BAITING.

. i i i i i -^fr-■-■■ i .. _ i ITALIAN PEOVOCA.TION. I;;];'.;;^;^:;'-:' ; ." ;;'■' •;.;':■; ;'.:'_^l_|- ■■':■:}'■ .:■->"- '■:'■'■'':■ -. THREAT TO YUGOSLAVIA, f| DESIGNS ONFIUME. VIRTUAL ULTIMATUM. FRANCE TAKES ' ALARM. ; '•■ By Telegraph—Press . Association—Copyright. :•■''■ (Received i.JO p.m.) . _, :. J" A. »d N.Z. '• LONDON. Sept. 6. , A sensation has : been caused- by the ■ publication in Paris of ti message from the ■']'.'. politika, the semi-official organ of: tho Yugoslav Government, detailing the recent negotiations; between ■ ■ Yugoslavia:.; and '/-.: : : Italy.* * ; ' ' e '| ' The Politika describes the Italian plan ','' as meaning that Italy is annexing tho State of Fiume and tJi'o port of Barros. ; /"Yugoslavia has been given until September •; 15 to accept the Italian plan, which is :/"'•"■'' couched in the form of an ultimatum. This the Yugoslavian Government cannot do. :. Viewed in the Ugh l ; of Signor Mussolini rattling the sabre in the face of the Balkan Powers, this is regarded as ox- ■ .Iremely grave news... ' ' The Paris correspondent of the Morning ~ Post states that M. Pasitch, Prime Minister of Yugoslavia, had a long interview / with ML Poincare." The veteran Serbian >■'-.;• statesman insisted that his Government was absolutely unable to give way on '/ some of the points of the Treaty of Rapadlo, which Signor Mussolini desired to modify, though Yugoslavia sincerely .• desired to manifest no bellicose intention. Discussing the Politika's-message, the Paris newspapers describe it as a new war dead, which may involve the whole of ;," Southern and Central Europe. ' The Poli- ■ tika states that Serbia is on her guard,, Belgrade is awaiting the arrival of the. Greek Minister from Athens, but the Serbian Government is determined that :V" nothing must be done to upset the ■squilihrium of the Balkans. The , Serbian Cabinet, however, h;is decided not to pub forward its point of view while the present conflict is before the ; International .-/■■. Tribunal, and in puifsuance of this policy •■.has not replied to theappeal for help she :" received from Greece. .'■' / The Temps .is so impressed with. the ;, ; . "danger that it nrgei; the Allies not to waste time in discussing the procedure in dispute between Greece and Italy. ; If • the new crisis' becories acute, peace will only bo maintained by perfect harmony / among the Allies, and sentiment of soliidaritv among the nations which stood side by side during the world war. If Britain ?;■ foresees this eventuality she will avoid : .complicating the.present; quarrel. ',■■■. ■■■■_■: . The Journal des.- Debate;;. says it.does not accuse Signor ,N[ussolioi of nurturing ■ "dark': designs, but '--ili is : evident he has; been carried away by exaltation of mood, '.". which is plainly demonstrated in recent / interviews with the ; press. ; SignorMusso- ' lini's references to the Balkan States were, ; couched in terms which amounted to a ;• threat. The piper warns Italy of'pursuing a policy of prestige which ; will in- . volve Southern Europe in disaster, such ais ; Austria precipitated in 1914. •,; "/ The Daily Chronicle's Home correspon- §: dent says the Montenegrins are fomenting '. 'trouble : in"'the Scutari district - because - the new boundary ; ; crosses land, occupied' by tho Montenegrins. .- '.-: ' -