EUROPEAN CONFLICT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 11, 14 January 1941, Page 5

EUROPEAN CONFLICT

MAY ENVELOP WORLD ’ GIGANTIC WAR THREAT BULGARIAN PREMIER’S SPEECH. Received Jan. 13, 10.20 p.m. SOFIA, Jan. 12. The Bulgarian Prime Minister, Professor Bogdan Filoff, broadcasting a speech to the nation, said: “A gigantic war threatens to envelop the entire world after the declaration of the President of the United States, Mr. Roosevelt.” Professor Filoff declared that the Government was determined to safeguard Bulgaria's freedom and independence and had no reasons to change its foreign policy. He emphasised that Bulgaria was doing its utmost to sta.v out. of the war, and added: “Bulgaria revisionism has always been peaceful revisionism.” Germany has taken no steps to bring Bulgaria under any form of domination, he said. The Sofia correspondent of The Times says that Professor Filoff’s speech was undoubtedly received with great satisfaction in moderate Bulgarain political circles, but brings strong criticism from pro-Axis elements. Professor Filoff repeated his declaration that National Socialist, Fascist and Communist systems of Government were unsuitable for Bulgaria, although official German bulletins previously attacked him for making this statement in Parliament. Professor Filoff described Mr. Roosevelt’s Congress message as “an unquestionable sign that the present European conflict will develop into a long, gigantic world war.” This is most significant at a time when German propagandists in Sofia are asserting that Mr. Roosevelt’* speech is not important and will not delay an Axis victory beyond 1941. SOVIET ISSUES DENIAL TROOP MOVEMENTS WITHOUT, CONSENT EXPANSION OF RUSSIAN INDUSTRIES Received Jan. 13, 10.30 p.m. MOSCOW, Jan. 17. A denial that the Soviet had consented to the entry of German troops into Bulgaria was contained in a Tass Agency statement broadcast by the Moscow radio. “We are authorised to state firstly that, if it is true that German troops arrived, or are still arriving in Bulgaria, this is occurring without the consent of the Soviet, as Germany never raised the question.” The Soviet has decreed the widespread reorganisation and expansion of local industries and the increase of the production of consumers’ goods and foodstuffs_because production lags behind growing demands in most regions.