ITALIAN CONCERN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20055, 29 September 1939, Page 7

ITALIAN CONCERN

INFLUENCE IN BALKANS PENDING RUSSIAN SWAY DISMAY AND ALARM / UNDERSTANDING WANTED (Reed. Sept. 29, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 27. The 'Rome correspondent of the New York Times says that Italy is anxiously watching the conversations at Moscow between, the Soviet Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, M. Molotov, and the German Foreign Minister, Herr von R'i'bbentron. 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, States the correspondent. 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 the Consummation that Italy devoutly wishes, but it is doubtful whether Russia will agree. It is hard to imagine the Soviet, while working hand in glove with Germany, turning around to 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 on the Balkans, however, is quite plausible. Relations between Rome and Moscow have been friendly for years; even the Spanish civil war has not disturbed them seriously behind the scenes, but the problem now is whether there is room for Italy and Russia in the Balkan's, and, if so, how their 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 were opened up of a diversion of Balkan trade frpm Germany to Italy—the same trade that the Germans took away from the Italians during the Abyssinian war and more besides. Now Russia wants a share. It may well be the lion’s share, particularly should it prove that part of her bargain with Germany was a free hand in the Balkans.