Neutral Determination Stiffens

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21558, 22 January 1940, Page 7

Neutral Determination Stiffens

Nazi Troops on Rumanian Frontier Urgent Need of Oil Supplies United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received January 21, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 20. THERE is a stiffening throughout Europe in the A determination of neutrals to maintain their independence. Four German divisions are reported on the Rumanian-Galician frontier. German troops have entered Russia en route to Odessa and the Turkish frontier. Yugoslavia to-day called up five classes of reservists. War materials, mostly from Italy, are constantly arriving. Evacuation plans are complete. According to the General Staff’s opinion, trouble is possible in the spring.

The Danish Parliament has assured Sweden that Denmark will not allow Danish territory to be used as a German base in the event of Russian and German action against Sweden.. Parliament passed an all party motion declaring that Denmark will fight if necessary to defend her neutrality and independence. The only dissentient was a German minority member, M. Stauning.

The “New Statesman and Nation” calls attention editorially to two events which it suggests have significance. The first was the appointment of a Soviet Minister in Bratislava and a Slovakian in Moscow. The second was the curt request received a few days ago by M. Zdenek Fierlinger, Czechoslovak Minister in Moscow from the Soviet Government to regard his mission as at an end. These changes mean that the Soviet has recognised the German protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia as well as the “autonomous” Slovak State. The journal adds: “It is not uninteresting to recall the Note which M. Litvinov (Chief of the Foreign Office Information Bureau; handed the German Ambassador to Moscow on March 18, 1939. In that Note the Soviet declared that it could not recognise either the annexation of Bohemia, Moravia or that Slovakia was even under a form of autonomy as corresponding with the standards of international law or the principle of self-determination. But times have changed.” The Prime Minister (Dr. Saydam) told the Turkish Parliament that the talks between Turkey and Bulgaria bad established friendship and identity of views in efforts to stabilise Balkan peace and security. He added that Turkey had decided that democracy was the best course. The Soviet announced intensive civilian air raid drills throughout Russia from March 1 to May 1. involving a million persons in schools, factories and offices. Oil Supplies Necessary A message from Amsterdam states that Hitler is drawing full attention to the question of oil supplies for war. Urgent messages are being exchanged between the Government and Dr. Clodius, head of the German mission. King Carol has again been told that Rumania cannot be regarded as genuinely neutral unless German petrol demands are satisfied. Germany is regularly sending oil trains with camouflaged tanks to Rumania, 14 passing through to Germany nightly congesting the single railway track. Hungary is demanding the return of railway trucks from Germany, believing that she is using them inland after arrival with Hungarian goods. The Belgrade correspondent of Times” says the entry of Germans resulted in the German-Russian trade agreement now being negotiated under which Germany will have economic concessions in Polish C licia to develop oil production. Germany has despatched engineers and skilled workmen under a military escort.

The Netherlands Government considers the frontier situation too serious to permit the relaxation of precautions in spite of the resumption of leave in the Belgian army.

Travellers from Berlin have provided further evidence of unusual preparations. All trains are stopped 45 • miles from the frontier and only passenger with tickets for the Netherlands are allowed to proceed. The carriage blinds are then drawn. Nazi guards patrol the corridors closely watching to ensure that nobody peeps out. A passenger who was able to risk an occasional glance behind the blinds said the country was deserted and the towns evacuated. A la. e number of hospital trains were travelling from the west fully occupied, suggesting that there are more casualties in the Siegfried Line than thought else there was much illness amoi-g the troops. Earlier messages state that there was a further easing of tension in th? Low ountries with the announcement that leave in the Belgian Army would shortly be resumed.

A Belgian Foreign Office pokesm.v.l confrmed that the occupants of a German aeroplane which was forced o land on January 14 had “important :nd disquieting documents in their possession.” He refused to reveal the contents. The police arrested a proNazi Belgian who was inspecting the spot where the aeroplane landed. Failure to '“-impede Neutrals

In a leading article headed ' Tension Relaxed,” "The Times” states: “The wintry weather with poor visibility and snowed up roads has probably settled for the moment, at any rate, the question of whether the Nazi High Command is or is not about to launch an assault on the Western Front via Holland and I ';ium. Surpris. being one of Hitler’s favourite weapons in war as in diplomacy, it can never be said for certain that no prospect of such an attack exists. “Hitler is ready to attack any neighbour at. any mcment and since he has no regard for a given pledge, the fact that he has formally ssured both t'.e Dutch and Belgian Governments ‘Tat he has no designs against them only makes It more likely that if and when a general offensive in the west is o-dered from Berlin 1; should be carried out through the neutral countries on either flank of the Maginot defensive system.”

The “New York Times” states that if intimidation of neutrals is intended by these constant alarms it must be clear that this weapon Li.s failed. According to a later message the

“Sunday Times” says Italy has askid Germany her attitude in the eve f Russian expansion in the Balkans, emphasising that Italy will not tc.:rate Russian penetration, for hich reason she reserve full 'ty of action. The Belgrade correspondent of the “Sunday Times” says there are ssian in addition to German troop movements in Galicia. The Germans have also Germanised the Slovak army, purging the unreliable elements. The German fo i northwest Slovakia and south Poland are equal to General Weygand's Near East forces.