NEW DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21817, 21 November 1940, Page 5

NEW DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE

BALKAN CAPITALS ANXIOUS War Of Nerves On Turkey United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. November 20, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. Soon after the official Budapest announcement that the Prime Minister (Count Teleki) and the Foreign Minister (Count Csaky) ■were going to Vienna to-morrow to confer with von Ribbentrop and Count Ciano it was reported from Berlin that Hitler had received ex-King Leopold at Berchtesgaden. Wilhelmstrasse officials admitted that Hitler had seen “a high Belgian personage.” According to the “Daily Express” neutral observers express

the opinion that Hitler wants to offer France part of Belgium in compensation for French territory which will be ceded to Italy, Leopold thereafter to be appointed king of a new country composed of the remainder of Belgium, Luxemburg and Holland. The Budapest correspondent of the Exchange Agency states that the Berchtesgaden tea party is being repeated at Vienna with Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary and possibly Yugoslavia represented. AU the Balkan capitals are in a state of extreme anxiety. Turkey alone, maintains calm resolution. Apparently she has precise assurance from Moscow. The Budapest correspondent of the

Associated Press of Great Britain, states that there are widespread reports that Bulgaria is planning an ultimatum to Greece demanding Thrace as an outlet to the Aegean. These reports follow messages from Berlin announcing a week of fresh diplomatic activity against Britain. Von Ribbentrop to-day ceremoniously farewelled Senor Suner, who left Berlin for Madrid. One Nazi newspaper declares that Hitler’s latest activities have brought closer the liberation of Europe from British hegemony. There is no official knowledge in London of the reported meeting between Hitler and King Boris of Bulgaria, and in its absence there is a strong inclination against attaching special significance to the meeting or drawing unwarranted Inferences. The Ankara correspondent of “The Times" says that although the statements of von Papen (Nazi Ambassador to Turkey) while in Berlin were somewhat obscure, it is openly hinted that provided Turkey subjects herself to the new order in Europe, Italy and Germany will respect her independence and Russia will not press the Dardanelles question but seek an outlet in the Persian Gulf. Von Papen has now declared after M. Molotov's visit to Berlin that Turkey is faced with the "urgent problem of restoring completely friendly relations with Russia and seeking a rapproachement with the Axis.” Although Turkey is scarcely a European power she is included in the new order. The Axis has no claims against Turkey and approached the question of Independence on the “basis of European equilibrium.” The correspondent added that von Papen’s statement has raised a suspicion that his return to Ankara is to inaugurate a new war of nerves against Turkey. The Cairo correspondent of the ‘’Daily Express," referring to a report that Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kowelt (Bind Bahrein propose to hold a conference to discuss new British bases along the Persian Gulf, says the British ■forces used the supply route in this area in the last war. General Allenby's railway is now derelict near ■Bales tine. ■m The radio announced that a blackout is to be enforced throughout Turkey on Thursday.