TUG-OF-WAR.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 22 January 1938, Page 6

TUG-OF-WAR.

EUROPEAN NATIONS. GREAT POWERS- TAKING THE STRAIN. LONDON, Jan. 14. The Great Powers are taking the strain in the Central European tug-of-war. While Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, is tying to gain the adhesion of Austria and Hungary to the Beriin-Rome-Tokio triangle, France and Britain are striving to keep Rumania steady in her adherence to the Little Entente. King Carol, by sending his Foreign Minister (M. Micescu) first to Prague and then to Belgrade, emphasises Ins attachment to old friendships. Although Carol is considered the real arbiter of Rumania’s foreign policy, an element of doubt is raised by the statement of the Fascist Premier (M. Goga), that Rumania’s policy will be co-ordinated with that of M. Stoyadinovitch, Foreign Minister for Yugoslavia. . ... M. Stoyadinovitcli’s prescription for retaining old friendships but adding new ones is unpopular in Prague, Paris and London. The Vienna correspondent of the Times expects the rise of the new Government in Rumania to have an important influence on the discussions between Italy and Hungary. Italy and Germany hope to bring Rumania within their orbit. Italy will seek to improve Hungarian relations with Rumania.

Dr Sclmschnigg, Austria’s Chancel-lor-Dictator, hopes that, despite the Rome-Rerlin axis, Austria will be left in peace. The semi-official Diplomatiscehe Korrespondenz, published in Berlin, declares that the Great Powers have too long treated the Danubian countries as chessmen in their game. The maxim that the economic situation must never be disturbed by politics is especially true of Central Europe, says the journal, “but Germany is a natural part of the whole middle European area. The fact that this is fully recognised by Italy shows how closely clown to brass tacks, and how fair are the principles of the Berlin-Rome axis.’’

Prague newspapers welcome M. Micescu’s visit as a sign of Rumania’s adherence to the Little Entente (the alliance of Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Rumania). They point out that it is necessary for M. Micescu to make personal contact with the Prague and Belgrade Governments before acting as joint spokesman for the Entente at tlie League Council.