MOSCOW TALKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20054, 28 September 1939, Page 5

MOSCOW TALKS

VISITING ENVOYS GERMAN AND TURKISH POSSIBLE BALKAN BLOC POSITION OF RUMANIA N ULTRA LIT Y G UARAN TEE (Reed. Sept. 28, 0 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 27. The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says (hat the arrival in Moscow to-day of the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, coupled with reports of the possible formation of a new Balkan and Near Eastern bloc led Soviet diplomatic sources to believe that sensational developments might be expected. A Russo-German military alliance is not ruled out. Some observers hint the possibility of Turkey being asked to act as an intermediary in a new bid for peace, It is reported from Bucharest that the visit to Moscow by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Sarajoglu Bey, might lead to negotiations between Italy and the Soviet for a Balkan pact under which Turkey, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece and Hungary would unite as a neutral bloc, guaranteeing the status quo in the eastern Mediterranean with the backing of Italy and the Soviet.

It is understood in Bucharest that Hungary would be willing to waive the claim to Transylvania and Rumania would seek to settle the Bessarabian issue with the Soviet. It is regarded in Bucharest as significant that Herr von Ribbentrop decided to go to Moscow after ’hearing the broad terms of the intended conversations by the Turkish Foreign Minister.

Rumanian Neutrality

A Bucharest communique, emphasising the normal relations between Rumania and Soviet Russia, states that a declaration by the Soviet Prime Minister, M. 'Molotov, guaranteeing Rumania’s neutrality was handed to the Rumanian army chief at the frontier, emphasising Russia’s desire for Rumanian neutrality. The Moscow correspondent of the New York Times says it is officially stated that the object of the visit to Moscow by Herr von Ribbentrop is’ not forthcoming, but it is certainly connected with the present visit of the Turkish Foreign Minister. The correspondent states that many things point to one object—to propose an agreement by which Germany will guarantee pot to invade the Balkans and Russia will also guarantee not to occupy the Balkans in return for

a Turkish guarantee to close the straits to alj belligerents. The correspondent states that a promise no doubt will be extracted lroiri the Balkans to place their entire economic resources at Germany’s disposal. It would be a bloodless but important German victory extracted under the threat of bloodshed. Turkey’s fears of seeing a great Power militarily occupy Rumania and Greece are based largely on the difficulty of defending . Istanbul owing to post-war losses to Greece, but Turkey will probably retain freedom. of action in the event of Italy entering the war.

The agreement would bring Russia security in trie Black not only in the event of war with France and Britain, but would also secure sea communications for the transit to Germany of cotton, manganese, some wheat and a limited quantity of oil.