FATE OF THE BALKANS

Evening Star, Issue 23384, 29 September 1939, Page 5

FATE OF THE BALKANS

Vital Talks in Moscow ITALY’S ANXIOUS INTEREST Turkey Signing Pact With Soviet Further Agreement With Allies Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, September 27. The Rome correspondent of the ‘New York Times says:— “ Italy is anxiously watching the conversations between Herr von Ribbentrop and M. Molotov, since the immediate fate of the Balkans is involved. Already Russia, much to Italy’s dismay and alarm, has become a powerful influence in the Balkans. There are even rumours that Rome and Moscow are negotiating a pact to guarantee the neutrality of the Balkans and the whole of the eastern Mediterranean. That is a .consummation Italy devoutly wishes, but it is doubted whether Russia will agree. ’“lt is hard to imagine that the Soviet, working hand in glove .with Germany, will turn around and make another agreement aimed at barring German intervention in the Balkans. The conviction is growing that any effort to separate Berlin and Moscow at the present stage is doomed to failure."’ That Italy will want to reach an understanding with Russia oh the Balkans, however, is quite feasible. Her relations with Moscow have been friendly for years, and even the Spanish war did not disturb seriously the position behind the scenes, but the problem now is whether there is room for Italy and Russia in the Balkans, and, if so, how the spheres of influence can be divided. Until the Russian invasion of Poland, Italy supposed that the whole of the South Balkans Peninsula was her sphere. Great possibilities have been opened up for the diversion of Balkan trade from Germany to Italy—the same trade that the Germans took away from the Italians in the Abyssinian war, and more besides. Now Russia wants a share which may well be the lion’s share, particularly if it should prove that part of her bargain with Germany was a free hand in the Balkans. The London ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says M. Maisky, the Soviet Ambassador, called on Lord Halifax on Wednesday, taking Moscow’s reply with regard to the future course of Soviet action in Europe. It is understood that this indicated that Moscow copld not at the moment definitely make a statement, since the Soviet action was dependent on other factors and events over which she had no control. It is believed that Lord Halifax also inquired concerning the Soviet Government’s attitude towards the ’ reopening of Anglo-Soviet trade conversations. It is not known what Moscow’s response was. A message from Moscow says that reliable reports from Ankara state that Bay Sarajuglu, the Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, will sign a pact before he leaves Moscow, settling the Black Sea and Eastern Balkan problems with Russia. The pact will supplement Turkey’s Anglo-French pacts covering the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans. The pact between Turkey and Russia includes:— First, organisation of a Black Sea bloc, including Rumania, Bulgaria, and Turkey. Secondly, closure of the straits to all foreign warships, including British. Thirdly, the return of Rumania’s Dobrudja province to Bulgaria. Russia renounces all claims to Bessarabia. It has been learned that Britain approved of the pact, as it lengthens the anti-aggression front, which was begun with Turkey’s, British, and French accords. It has also been stated that Russia sees no conflict between this pact and Turkey’s ties with Britain and France. The latest reports from Paris state that a pact between Britain, France, and Turkey is likely to be signed within two or three days and will embrace a defensive alliance outlining the fullest co-operation in case of a German move, against the Balkans.

SURRENDER OF WARSAW f ACCLAMATION TO GERMAN ARMY PILISH INVASION OF REICH FORESTALLED BERLIN, September 27. The Berlin radio announced that Field-Marshal Goering issued the following proclamation on the occasion of the “ surrender of Warsaw.” “ The Polish army’s mission was to march to Berlin, but before it could take action the German dagger struck .with lightning strokes. I am proud of the German air force. From the first day it decisively dominated the enemy sky, and no Polish aeroplane succeeded in flying over German soil. Now, after the fashion of German soldiers, we wilt retighten our armour more securely and await the Fuhrer’s next, order. Forward etomal Germany! ii

NORTH SEA AIR ATTACK REVISED NAZI CLAIM DIRECT HITS ALLEGED BERLIN. September 23. A revised communique issued about the North Sea attack states that “ an I.loolb bomb scored a direct hit on a British aircraft carrier, and two sdolh bombs struck forward of midships on a battleship. It is easy to imagine what the consequences must have been.” The communique reasserts that all the German planes returned safely. COMPLETE DENIAL BY ADMIRALTY LONDON, September 28. A coyamunique on Mr Churchill’s statement says it is‘literally and absolutely correct, and there is no truth whatever in the German cqunter-state-ment.

WESTERN FRONT LULL A QUIET DAY FRENCH EXPECTING NAZI " DIPLOMATIC " OFFENSIVE NEW YORK, September 27. The Paris correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ says that to-day was one of the quietest days on the western front. The French communiques again were most terse. The only development in the past 24 hours seems to be that the Germans are lengthening the range of their heavy guns. It is presumed that the purpose is to harass the French rear. Otherwise each side is standing in positions. The intensity of the artillery seemed subnormal. The first lines of infantry have mostly been rested. The Saarbrucken-Sweibrucken-Horn-bach triangle remains the most sensitive point where the Nazis apparently are most apprehensive of the French progress. It is reported that Saarbrucken has been completely evacuated. As far as the Nazis are concerned, the lull can possibly be ascribed to political considerations, dependent on the outcome of Herr von Ribbentrop’s conversations In Moscow, but now that Warsaw has capitulated and the Polish front has been eliminated, a more definite idea of the Nazi intentions may be expected. Certain French quarters consider that a diplomatic offensive is within the bounds of probability. In this connection it is recalled that the Nazis have been persistently professing that they have no quarrel with France. Belated letters from soldiers at the front confirm the reports that in the early days of the war the German soldiers displayed placards, expressing a desire to fraternise and also stating that convoys would not be fired on_ until they were actually on German soil. The object of all this was no doubt an attempt to disrupt the British-French alliance. It is observed here that the best reply to this is the_ fact that the British troops, completing their concentration, will soon be on the front fighting shoulder to shoulder with the French. LUXEMBURG APPREHENSIVE PARIS, September 28. Le Journal’s ’ Luxemburg correspondent reports that there is increasing anxiety about the German intentions. The Germans have heavily barbwired the Luxemburg frontier to prevent mass desertion by Nazi troops. BOMBING OF OPEN TOWNS BRITAIN WILL NEVER OFFEND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. Mr R. L. Butler, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, answering questions in _ the House of Commons concerning whether the British Government would consider approaching the German Go vernment for the purpose of appointing neutral commissions to investigate reported cases of bombing civilians as had been proposed by Mr H. C. Hoover, a former president of the United States, among others, replied: “While Britain has every sympathy with the objects of this proposal and with that made by Mr Hoover she considers that the_ difficulties _of bringing the scheme into operation and of it functioning successfully would be almost insuperable. I would remind the House of what the Prime Minister said on September # 14, that whatever be the lengths to which others may go Britain will never resort to deliberate attack on women, children, or other civilians for the purposes,of mere terrorism.” CONTRABAND GOODS SEIZURES BY FRENCH FLEET PARIS, September 28. The French fleet took more than 100,000 tons of contraband during the first three weeks of the war, not including cases where. it_ acted in conjunction with the British fleet. SINKING OF ROYAL SCEPTRE SURVIVORS REACH BRAZIL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. The Ministry of Information confirms the report that 32 survivors of the Royal Sceptre were landed at Bahia (Brazil) by the Browning. The Ministry explains that as no wireless message was received and as almost three weeks had passed without news; it had to be assumed that the crew of the Royal Sceptre _ had perished. Inquiries from relatives, therefore, had been answered to that effect.

The nine wounded members of the crew and four others are remaining at Bahia and the rest are proceeding to Rio de Janeiro.

TRAWLERS CREW HANDED OVER TO GERMAN DESTROYER STOCKHOLM, September 28. A German destroyer stopped the Swedish motor ship Kronprinessan Margareta oif Gothenburg and demanded delivery of 11 members of the crew of the sunken Fleetwood trawler Oaldew, which the Kronpriessan rescued in the North Sea on Tuesday. The captain had no alternative but to hand the men over, and the destroyer then turned round and disappeared. WITHIN HER RIGHTS LONDON. September 28. The Admiralty states that the German destroyer which took off the crew acted within her rights undar international '

TENSION IN ESTONIA FEARS Of SOVIET INVASION MAY YIELD TO DEMANDS NEW YORK, September 27. The Moscow correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ reported that the Estonian Foreign Minister (Dr Karl Selter), after protesting against the violation of the Estonian frontiers by Soviet planes, nevertheless decided to yield to the Soviet demands in view of the impossibility of obtaining help in resisting a Soviet invasion. It is thought possible that the demand might not include actual occupation of Tallinn, but that the Soviet might be content with the installation of garrisons on certain Estonian Islands commanding Tallinn, coupled with special privileges for the use of Tallinn as a port. It is feared that Moscow is determined to get war-time control of the large island, Dagoe, and Baltischport, Estonia’s only ice-free harbour. Informed circles suggest that Estonia is prepared to meet the Soviet claims as far as possible to alleviate suspicion concerning Estonian neutrality. _ The authorities have ordered the military forces not to fire on bombers from a Soviet aircraft carrier which is lying off the coast. The bombers flew low over Tallinn and elsewhere to-day. This, plus the Moscow report than an unknown submarine sank the Soviet steamer Metallist, has aggravated the tension here. DELEGATES GIVEN COLD RECEPTION NEW YORK, September 28. The Tallinn correspondent ■of the ‘ New York Times ’ says it is reported that the Estonian delegates were given a very cold reception in Moscow. Foreign Office subordinates informed the Estonian Foreign Minister (Dr Karl Selter) that a Russian ship had been torpedoed on the borderline of Estonian and Russian waters. The general belief is that Estonia will be forced to accede to the demands. CHAPTER AND VERSE NAZI LEADERS' FORTUNES ARROAD COEBBELS’S CHALLENGE TAKE|TUP ILLUMINATING REVELATIONS PARIS, September 28. The Paris ‘ Soir ’ publishes a signed article by an American correspondent, Sir Knickerbocker, who wrote the original articles, takipg up Dr Goebbejs’s challenge to produce evidence of Nazi fortunes abroad. Mr Knickerbocker states that three agents helped Dr Goebbels to place capital abroad namely, Wilhelm Achterberg, who travelled to Montevideo on behalf of the publishers of * Mein Kampf ’ and deposited 1,850,OOOdol on behalf of Dr Goebbels in the safes of a German importing firm at Buenos Aires; Thomas Bucher, a member of the executive of the Ministry of Propaganda, who, helped by the Kreisbank Aktien Company, deposited on behalf of Dr Goebbels in Luxembourg bearer shares to the value _of 2,480,000 belgas; Paul von Boddcheim, a banking agent, who deposited on behalf of Dr Goebbels with the Osaka branch of .the Nippon Ginko Bank bills and currency to the value of £465,000.

Dr Goebbels’s life insurances are: On his own life, 330,000d01, 2,350,000 Netherlands florins, and 1,235 belgas; on, his wife’s life, 670,000 Swiss francs, 4.500.000 reichsmarks, and £89,000. Herr von Ribbentrop’s agents were Robert Eylau, a rich wine producer, and Hans Grosso, a wine importer. Heinrich Marbau, Herr von Ribbentrop’s confidential friend,' placed 165.OOOdol to the latter’s credit in the Amsterdamsche Bank, Haarlem, Holland; in the Buitenland Bank, The Hague; and in the Banca Swizzera, Italian Zurich. Herr von Ribbentrop is'the only Nazi leader who has taken out insurance in French francs. Perhaps this is significant, as he always held out to Hitler that a. separate peace with France was possible. His own life is insured for 3,000,000 French francs, 1,760 belgas, 2,800,000 Netherlands florins, and 8,900 reichsmarks. His wife’s life is insured for 520,000d01, 3.500.000 lire, and £30,000.

Field-Marshal Goering’s agents are named and also the banks concerned. He has 1,225,000d0l in safe deposit in Sao Paulo (Brazil), American bonds domiciled in New York aggregating 750,000d01, and-1,000.000d0l at Malmo (Sweden) and Trieste (Italy), in addition to millions in life insurance. Herr Hess’s transactions are' also detailed, including 475,000d0l held at Sao Paulo and over . £200,000 worth of Swiss and Netherlands bonds. His life insurances in foreign currencies total over £125,000. Dr Ley was out of luck in his transactions, as his agents were either executed or placed in concentration camps. Herr Himmler has placed 2,000.000 dollars in South America, the Near East, and in Finland. Mr Knickerbocker concludes that he is “ glad to publish these details at the request of Dr Goebbels.” ACCURACY TESTED INFORMING TKE GERMAN PEOPLE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 28. (Received September 29, at 10 a.m.) Close inquiries have been made on behalf of the British Government to test the accuracy of the American Press reports that large fortunes have been placed abroad by certain Nazi leaders, and in the House of Commons yesterday the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Information stated that steps were being taken to see that these reports and the implications of the action of the Nazi leaders are brought to the notice of the, German people

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY THE NEW PROPOSALS DEFENDED BY SENATOR PITTMAN WASHINGTON, September 28. Senator Pittman, broadcasting to the nation, defended the Administration’s neutrality proposals as a fair and in-telligently-contrived plan to keep the country from war. The present statute, he said, was far from neutral. He denied that repeal of the embargo would place the United States in a position to help Britain and France, since Germany’s allies, Italy and Russia, had not been declared belligerents and could import whatever they desired, BRITAIN'S PREPAREDNESS CAREFULLY LAID PLANS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 27. Replying in the House of Lords to criticism of the new Ministry of Supply, Lord Chatfield (Minister for Co-ordination of Defence) affirmed his belief that “we can perfectly and fairly claim —and it will be shown—that we have never gone into war when our preparations have been so carefully laid or so fur advanced m peace-time. We have our programme, and we have prepared for a war to last at least three years. Not only have we a programme, but we have been working on it for a number of years.”

The machinery which had been set up could he expanded Jo any extent wherever required,