BALKAN SECURITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 133, 6 May 1940, Page 7

BALKAN SECURITY

BRITAIN’S SETTLED POLICY INCREASED VIGILANCE. NEUTRALS WART OF NAZIS. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyrignt.)’ (British Official Wireless.) Received May 6, 10.10 a.m. RUGBY, May 5. The British Ambassador to Rome (Sir Percy Loraine), who has been for some time home on leave,, is returning to his post. He was present at the discussions which the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax) had a few weeks ago with the British diplomatic representatives from South-East-ern Europe who had been specially summoned to Loudon for the purpose. ■

He will, therefore, be able to give the Italian Government, should it require it, a fuller and more intimate account of the proceedings, the purport of which must already be known to it and the essence of which lies in the settled policy of Britain defined in the official statement issued after the consultations by the Foreign Office as “preservation of peace and the promotion of security in the Balkan and Danubian countries.’’

As Professor E. H. Carr points out in the Sunday Times to-day, that is to the Italian interest no less than the British. Since the return to the South-East European capitals of the British diplomats who took part in the discussions with Lord Halifax, events in other directions have increased rather than diminished the anxieties which beset these States.

It has been again demonstrated that neither strict neutrality, nor non-provocation verging on compliance, nor guarantees, nor promises, nor pledges will save any country from German attack if the tortuous developments of Nazi policy require its subjugation. There has been plenty of evidence in the last fortnight that, in face of this renewed warning, nations situated wherever Germany can disturb the peace' are increasing their vigilance and precautions. British policy, which stands in opposition to any extension of hostilities at their expense, must, be to them one of the few reassuring factors in ah anxious situation.