BALKAN TRADE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1938, Page 7

BALKAN TRADE

PROGRESS OF THE GERMAN CAMPAIGN BID FOR RUMANIAN OIL & WHEAT. CONTACT WITH EMPIRE INTERESTS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, October 12. Dr Funk, German Minister of Economics, has left Istanbul for Sofia to negotiate an agreement furthering Germany’s economic plans in the Balkans. It is revealed that Dr Funk has accepted invitations to visit Rumania and Greece. He reaffirmed today that the method for developing Germany’s economic relations with the Balkan States will consist of bilateral agreements, based on reciprocal barter. Dr Funk’s success in Turkey has been sealed by a barter agreement whereby Germany will take Turkish tobacco, timber, raisins, and cotton in exchange for machinery and manufactured goods. The Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that Rumania, with her wheat and oilfields, is a most important link in the chain which Germany is weaving in south-eastern Europe. It is stated that Germany will guarantee Rumania a steady oil market and help her open new oil-fields. The correspondent adds that Germany may be expected to attempt to paralyse British trade efforts to control the Rumanian oilfields, thereby securing immunity from blockade in this vital aspect of modern warfare. German claims will not stop at Turkey, but will embrace Irak, Iran, Syria, and Afghanistan, contacting in this manner with the direct interests of the British Empire. Dr Funk’s conclusion of an agreement with Turkey is regarded as a sign that other countries will fall easier victims to Germany’s blandishments.