"DARING .AND DANGEROUS”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21821, 26 November 1940, Page 5

"DARING .AND DANGEROUS”

NAZI WARNING TO GREECE Hint Of Extension Of War By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 25, 10 p.m.) BERLIN, November 24. “Diplomatische Korrespondenz” official organ of the German Foreign Office, referring to the statement by General Metaxas that the Greeks are fighting not only for themselves but for other small peoples, warns that such declarations are extraordinarily daring and dangerous. General Metaxas thereby confesses himself a tool of the British policy for extending the war. Hitler has continued his diplomatic activity in Berlin, where yesterday, the Slovak Prime Minister (Dr Tuka) on behalf of the Slovak people, whom he does not represent, signed a protocol by which Slovakia joins the Axis. In Ankara and Belgrade the general opinion is that the Germans are attempting to get Yugoslavian and Turkish acquiescence to the transport of troops, which are badly needed to reorganise the disorganised Italian army. It is considered that Hitler and Mussolini, mainly because of the failure of the Italian campaign in Greece, have got themselves into a muddle. Whether Bulgaria will offer any resistance to a German attempt to transport troops through that territory Is still uncertain, and the position is

further complicated because the Yugoslav people have been able to observe the fate that befell Rumania through agreement with German proposals. They have also seen what has happened in “little Greece.” The Berlin radio has also been openly hinting that Yugoslavia is joining the Axis. Newspaper correspondents from Budapest report that Yugoslovian newspapers have reaffirmed the country’s determination to defend Its integrity. One report from Budapest says that von Papen has gone on a mission to Ankara, in which he proposes to offer highly favourable economic and trade relations to Turkey if she will join the Axis. Von Papen denied the German radio and news agency assertion that he declared Italy and Germany would subject Turkey to the new order but would respect Turkish independence. “Such a statement would be contrary to all diplomatic usage.” Bulgaria’s Future The Ankara correspondent of “The Times,” discussing Bulgaria’s future, says Hitler is believed to have hinted to King Boris that the time was opportune for Bulgarian action to realise territorial claims. He pointed out the advantages of a German alliance. King Boris is reported to have given an assurance of Bulgaria’s pro-Axis sympathies, but added that small weak countries could not risk involvement in battles between giants. The Belgrade correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the former Bulgarian Premier, Mr Mushanov, answering a statement by the Government spokesman, Mr Doumanov, in Parliament, that Bulgaria’s claims for frontier revision were at the expense of Yugoslavia and Greece, accused the Government of not consulting the Parliament and people, and added: “I demand to know if Bulgaria is for peace. I say the people are for peace.” There is indignation at the Bulgarian claims on Yugoslavia and Macedonia. It is alleged that M. Doumanov is an agent provacateur seeking to embroil Yugoslavia with Germany.