BALKANS AROUSED

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21035, 10 February 1940, Page 7

BALKANS AROUSED

DEFENCE MEASURES ARMIES AUGMENTED PLACED ON WAR FOOTING (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 8 Neutral Powers in South-eastern Europe are placing their armies on a war footing, says a message from Budapest. Rumania is augmenting the 1,000,000 men at present under arms, and is expediting her defences, even if this will reduce her ability to supply products to Germany. Troops are requisitioning scrap-iron for armaments. Hungary has made scrapiron a State monopoly. Yugoslavia is reported to be preparing an army of 500,000 men, under the command of the Regent, Prince Paul. Turkey maintains 200,000 troops on the Russian border, in spite of the demand for manpower in the area devastated by the recent earthquakes. On his return from the Balkan Entente meeting the Prime Minister of Greece, General Metaxas, said he hoped Greece would avoid being involved in hostilities. He did not say they would remain at peace until the end—they would remain at peace only as men who could retain their self-respect. Russo-Italian Relations The Soviet Charge d’Affaires, M. Helfand, has held frequent conferences with the Italian Foreign Minister, Count Ciano, in an effort to ease relations between Italy and Russia. Trade representatives also are discussing a commercial treaty to replace the agreement which lapsed on December 31. Italy is keen to import more Russian naphtha because the revaluation of the Rumanian currency has rendered Rumanian petrol too dear. A Slovak economic mission is arranging an agreement with Italy and a Rumanian delegation will arrive in Rome shortly with a similar objective.