THE MIDDLE EAST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21250, 22 October 1940, Page 5

THE MIDDLE EAST

EFFECT OF AXIS THRUST SOLIDITY OF NATIONS FRIENDSHIP TO BRITAIN (United I’res-s Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 20 The Cairo correspondent of the Times says the Axis thrust in the Balkans has had the immediate effect of welding the Middle Eastern countries into a solid block. Britain has been speedily negotiating with Turkey, Greece, Irak, Palestine. Egypt and the free French and Belgian colonies of Central Africa. Political groups reaching Egypt from the Balkans are offering support to Britain. They have requested shelter for refugees who are seeking to escape from Bulgaria and Rumania, and also a commission for men to enlist in the British Armies.

The presence in Egypt of the Secretary of State for War, Mr Anthony Eden, has given a remarkable atmosphere of assurance. The feeling that Britain, under the pressure of German attacks, might pay less attention to Egypt, has disappeared. A stringent blackout has been imposed in Bucharest and also in the oilfields, says a message from the Rumanian capital. A secret radio station accuses the Government of betraying Rumania by adhesion to the Axis. It gives details of members of the Iron Guard who are in positions of authority and warns citizens against them. Manifestoes are being distributed nightly, attacking both the Government and the Germans. The Rumanian Government has approved the exportation of a quantity of oil to Turkey. Nazi Pretence Dropped Germany’s pretence of nominal control of the Rumanian Army has been dropped, states the correspondent of the Times in the Balkans. The Rumanian Ministries of Defence, Air and Marine, have been suppressed and replaced by four UnderSecretariats for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Supply. The General Staff has ordered all owners of motor-cars to put their cars in for repair within six months. The Ministry of Communications has signed a contract with the Italians for the building of a trunk road from Turnu Severin to Galatz, which will link the great port with a point on the Danube above whicn the heavier barges cannot navigate. This suggests a scheme for improving the Axis trade with Near East markets.

The Rumanian newspaper Universul has announced an increase of 100 per cent in the price of veal, 120 per cent for black bread, 180 per cent for soap, 300 per cent for bread and 350 per cent for tomatoes and onions. This gives a vivid picture of Germanised Rumania.

Bulgarian prices have risen by 40 per cent since the outbreak of war, and Yugoslavian prices have increased 100 per cent since the beginning of 1939. The peasants of Yugoslavia are bitter because bread prices are soaring to a level equal to four times the price that they are obtaining for their wheat.