BALTIC-BALKANS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20056, 30 September 1939, Page 5

BALTIC-BALKANS

NEW VASSAL STATES

NEXT VICTIMS HINTED

LATVIA—LITHUANIA

BESS ARABIAN FUTURE

(F.lec. Tel. Copyright —United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 30, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 29.

A message from Stockholm states that the paper Tidingen in an editorial says: “The reduction of Estonia’s status to that of a Russian vassal state creates a wholly new situation in the Baltic.

“It is a step towards the transformation of power conditions in Europe. The consequences cannot be foreseen, but the Baltic States, in one blow, have been converted to the Russian sphere of influence. Estonia as a vassal state implies that Latvia will be paralysed and robbed of all trade and freedom, Lithuania will follow.”

A Copenhagen message quotes the National Tidende which says that Berlin observers are of the opinion that Russia will not only gain specified advantages, but will virtually control Estonia’s Imilitary and. economic life. It is considered that Russia is now demanding from Latvia not only economic concessions, but veiled control of the country’s affairs.

“From Rumania, Russia shortly will demand the whole of Bessarabia from the Polish frontier to the Black Sea,” states 'the (Danish journal. “From Turkey she is claiming control of the Bosphorus and the suspension of the treaty with Britain. In return for Germany's goodwill in these points Russia agreed to a new alliance to which all States over which Russia and Germany can jointly exercise control will be compulsorily attached. This does not exclude Scandinavia.”