BETTER BALKAN RELATIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21574, 9 February 1940, Page 7

BETTER BALKAN RELATIONS

Solidarity Is Now Unshakeable

Success Of Turkish Diplomacy

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, February 7.

The impression created by earlier reports that the Belgrade conference of the Balkan Entente had been markedly successful is confirmed by fuller details which have since reached London. “The Times” mentions as important consequences of the meeting, the marked improvem&it in the relations between Bulgaria and the Balkan Entente and Hungary’s decision to refrain from making territorial claims on Rumania for the duration of the war.

“The Times” adds: “As the Rumanian Foreign Minister (M. Gafencu) pointed out, all the nations represented at the conference, in spite of frequent quarrels and rivalries, have made their points. There was contact of many common interests and sympathies, and many similarities of culture. Western Europe has been too often tempted to disregard these common factors of understanding and agreement, and to write of the Balkan States as eternally sundered by ancient and popular feuds. “But the successes of Greek and Turkish diplomacy in recent years have shown the fallacy of this theory. The gulf that divided the Greeks and the Turks since the fall of Constantinople nearly five centuries ago was closed in the last decade. Turkey, after periods of bitter warfare or mistrust, is now on good terms with the Bulgarian kingdom. Valuable Work By Turkey “Turkish diplomacy has unquestionably rendered a most valuable service to Balkan solidarity by its patient, unceasing efforts at Sofia. “In other respects, too, the conference has gone much farther than was expected. Its resolutions are the more important in that they follow a press campaign, now lately abated, but very marked until the conference met, which seemed to indicate that the Nazi and Soviet Governments viewed any Balkan rapproachement with disfavour.

“During the last few days the attitude of the German press has been modified in favour of a sudden recogniticn of the rights of the Balkan nations to fair treatment. After the alternate attacks and expressions of disparagement which hrd marked all German references to the conference, the new attitude of benevolent reserve is the more significant. “It is plain that whatever are the immediate consequences of the Belgrade meeting, further attempts to shake the solidarity of the Entente are not likely to be successful.

“In France and Britain, which have guaranteed the territorial integrity of three of the four membei of the Balkan Entente, the unanimity shown at Belgrade, and the decisions taken there will be warmly appreciated.”

Bulgaria To Stay Neutral

It is announced in Ankara that Bulgaria gave a formal assurance at the Balkan Entente conference that she would remain neutral till the end of the war.

M. Saracoglu (Turkey), who has arrived at Sofia, conferred with the Bulgarian Prime Minister (M. Kiossevanov). He invited Bulgaria to participate in an economic conference among members of the Entente. M. Gafencu (Rumania), interviewed by a Greek newspaper, confirmed the report that Bnl* - ria was temporarily shelving her outstanding questions, and that she intended to follow a course parallel wiin the Entente countries.

The Budapest correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that Bulgaria and Hungary are seeking an explanation whether the Entente’s decision to safeguard national territory means the maintenance of the territorial status quo in £ uth-Eastern Europe. It is officially announced in Yugoslavia that the Minister of Commence (M. Andress) is going to Sofia in an effort to stimulate Bulgarian-Yugoslav trade. This is the first step following the Entente’s decision to develop trade.