CHECKS TO GERMANY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23213, 6 December 1938, Page 10

CHECKS TO GERMANY

The certainty that Germany has planned and is trying to establish economic dominance in the Balkan countries cannot be questioned. At the" same moment of the Munich agreement and the entry of German troops into Sudetenland, Dr. Funk, German Minister of National Economy, began a visit to all the Balkan capitals, offering them trade agreements. A special effort was ihade in Rumania, where, according to unofficial acpounts, valuable advantages were offered in return for oil concessions.. It is now announced that Rumania has signed a barter agreement with Italy, by which Itali&n machinery and ships will be exchanged for oil. In spite of all that may be said about the RomeBerlin axis, this is a check to Germany, whose aim has been not merely to foster trade, but to monopolise it. The fact that Rumania yieldß to Italy what Dr. -Funk specially sought, and agrees,to take what Germany would' gladly Have supplied, clinches the point. A firm offer to Yugoslavia to take, for a five-year period, the bulk of the country's agricultural output was not instantly accepted because the Yugoslavs wished to see their trade with Italy increas3d. It is a notable point that the way to Germany's goal has been partly blocked by the figure of her dearest ally. Beyond the Balkans proper, in Turkey, a British success has again checked the obvious German desire to extend trade influences eastward. Some months ago an agreement was made by which a British credit of £10,000,000 was extended to Turkey. It is now reported that nearly £3,500,000 will be spent in buying British ships and railway rolling stock in furtherance of an extensive scheme for maritime and industrial development. No unopposed entry is being given to German economic forces in the Near East.