KING BORIS TRYING TO EVADE WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 32, 7 February 1941, Page 5

KING BORIS TRYING TO EVADE WAR

TENSION IN BULGARIA NAZI-MINDED MINISTER’S RESIGNATION . TURKEY CONTINUES HER PREPARATIONS (By Telegraph—Press Aeeociatton—Copyright) Received Feb. 6, 6 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 6. | The Daily Mail's Sofia corres- ! pondent says that King Boris and ! the Government arc both attempting to evade war, but they seem i slotfly to be losing control of the situation. M. Bagrianoft's resig- ' nation as Minister of Agriculture shows that the policy of neu- ' trality is cracking. ■ The resignation of M. Bagrianoff has caused a sensation in political | circles. He is one of the King’s closest I friends and also is most popular ■ among the peasants, yet King Boris I approved his resignation. This is believed to have been the result of a quarrel with Professor Filoff over the question of the passage of German troops. The resignation may lead to a serious crisis, as the Minister of Agriculture, which Professor Filoff has taken over, is of second importance to the Prime Ministership. It appears that M. Bagrianoff overconfidently last week made a speech in Parliament criticising the Government’s economic policy. It was expected that Cabinet would resign, but King Boris, who hitherto has conceded much, obviously did not like the latest manoeuvres. The Ministerial resignation weakens the Cabinet’s position, but frees the Government of a politician aiming to institute a totalitarian economic system. It is not believed the resignation will affect Bulgaria’s foreign policy. The Telegraph’s Sofia correspondent says, it is reported from Berlin that officials there are surprised and disappointed. Professor Filoff's refusal to agree to closer collaboration with Germany is regarded as unfriendly, the German Press recently hailing M Bagrianoff as the coming Premier. Three divisions of newly-called-up troops are being sent to the Greek frontier. The effect of this' would draw off Greek pressure on the Italians, for which reason the move will almost certainly result in German influence. Meanwhile Turkey remains watchful and quietly continues to prepare. The Times' Istanbul correspondent says that Colonel Donovan, President Roosevelt’s personal envoy, after discussions with Dr. R. Saydarn, Prime Minister, and Mr. Sarajoglu. Foreign Minister, also military leaders, left a good impression as a result of the clarification of the attitude of the United States. Turkey sees no reason to relax vigilance.

The newspaper Ulus urges the country to be fully prepared for war before the spring. The Turkish General Staff is confident that any frontal attack from Bulgaria against Turkish fortifications in Thrace must fail, but it would bo dangerous if it infiltrated across Bulgaria and took up positions on the Greek frontier

Discussing such a possibility the newspaper Yenisabah declared that Turkey would act before the Germans reached the Greek frontier. BRITISH STAFF OFFICER IN TURKEY DEPARTURE FROM ISTANBUL INSPECTION OF DEFENCES. LONDON, Feb. 5. The British staff officers who have been in Ankara having talks with the Turkish staff left Istanbul to inspect defences in Thrace, the Dardanelles and some ot Turkey’s naval establishments.