BALKAN PEACE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1939, Page 7

BALKAN PEACE

1. 4— L DESIRED BY THE ALLIES BLOC OF NEUTRAL POWERS. IMPORTANT PART ASSIGNED TO TURKEY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. NEW YORK, September IL The London correspondent of the “New York Tinies” states that Allied diplomacy is .fighting to keep the neutral Slates in South-East Europe strong and independent. A diplomatic battle has been going on since the declaration of war. It aims at the creation of a bloc of neutral Powers from the Carpathians to the eastern Mediterranean and from the Black Sea io the Adriatic. The Turkish Ambassador in London. Dr Ars, is one of the chief strategists. The British acknowledge that one of keys to peace in th Balkans is the strength of Turkish diplomacy, and there is confidence that Turkey will act skilfully and may serve Britain better at present by keeping the Balkans neutral than by allowing them to be involved, requiring a heavy outlay of British money, manpower and other support. , ‘ Each has raw materials and strategic positions that Germany covets. It may be better to let the materials go to German in driblets than risk their entire loss by invasion. -The Turks believe that all SouthEast Europe can be kept neutral, becoming a rampart against further German attempts to dominate Europe. On this basis Turkey is fighting a diplomatic battle, and Britain is encouraging her.