BULGARIA ALTERS ATTITUDE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21822, 27 November 1940, Page 5

BULGARIA ALTERS ATTITUDE

NO AGREEMENT WITH AXIS Keen Interest Of Soviet By Telegraph—Press Association—Copvrlght LONDON, November 25 Gei-man propaganda statements now say that Bulgaria is not expected to sign an agreement with the Axis Powers. It was stated in Berlin previously that Bulgaria was expected to sign an agreement similar to those signed by Hungary, Rumania, and Slovakia. Bulgaria has apparently changed her mind and will not come In at present. It had been announced that Bulgarian statesmen were going to Berlin, but this was denied by the Italian News Agency and later by the German News Agency. Comment in diplomatic circles states that something has apparently happened to make Berlin and Rome believe they cannot get Bulgaria into the Axis yet. One reason might be the growing realisation in Bulgaria of Italy’s weakness. The Moscow radio has emphasised the growing Bulgarian opposition to subservience to Germany. Deputies in the Bulgarian Parliament urged the need for keeping close to the Soviet, and, like Russia, preserving neutrality. Parliament’s Attitude King Boris has received the Soviet delegate to the Danubian conference. The Moscow radio reports that considerable differences of opinion on Bulgaria’s domestic and foreign policy were shown in the Bulgarian Parliament a few days ago when a debate began on the King’s speech to Parliament. One member of the Chamber of Deputies demanded that King Boris’s visit to Berlin should be clarified. Moscow’s interest in Bulgarian affairs has engaged the attention of Balkan diplomats. It is considered not unimportant that Moscow has referred to the strong feeling in Bulgaria against subservience to Germany, and Moscow’s action in giving prominence to this debate may, it is thought, have some bearing on the situation. The Ankara correspondent of “The Times,” discussing Bulgaria’s future says that Hitler is believed to have hinted to King Boris that the time was opportune for Bulgaria to take action to realise her territorial claims. He pointed out the advantages of an alliance with Germany. Informed quarters in Sofia endorse the German view that Bulgaria is not joining the Axis. It is authoritatively learned that it now appears certain that Bulgaria will not be involved in war this winter. The visit of M. Filoff (Prime Minister) and M. Popoff (Foreign Minister) to Berlin has been cancelled apparently as a result of the successful Bulgarian insistence that she is unable to move before the clarification of the Russian and Turkish attitudes.