BALKAN STATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 September 1939, Page 8

BALKAN STATES

SOME WELCOME RUSSIA’S ACTION CHANCE TO BREAK GERMAN HOLD RUMANIA AND HUNGARY DISSENT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 20. The Budapest correspondent of the Associated Press of America says five little nations in South-Eastern Europe, although most of them are bitterly opposed to the Russian regime, have hailed the news of Moscow's renewal of active participation in Balkan affairs as a chance to break Germany’s economic stranglehold in South-East Europe—except on Hungary and Rumania. Turkish reports have indicated that the Foreign Minister will not only have friendship talks on his impending visit to Moscow, but will also try to secure better Rumanian relations, in order to offset Nazi influence in Bucharest. According to a Belgrade message Press reports state that from the viewpoint of the balance of power, the Russian development is not without its advantages. It will have “a counterbalancing effect.” Yugoslavia is seeking a non-aggression pact with Russia. Bulgaria is apparently taking seriously intimations that Russia will restore to Bulgaria the Dobrudja, taken by Rumania in the last war. Only Hungary and Rumania look askance at the newly created borders with Russia. MUTUAL CONFIDENCE ITALY AND GREECE. WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS ' FROM FRONTIER. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) ROME, September 20. In the “Giornale d’ltalia” Signor Virgino Gayda expressed the opinion that the moment for peace was at hand. It is officially stated that Italian troops had withdrawn from the Alban-ian-Greek border, providing evidence “of complete reciprocal trust.” An Athens message reports that a joint Italian-Greek communique announces that friendship and mutual confidence exist between Italy and Greece and accordingly Italy and Greece are withdrawing troops nor/ concentrated on the Greek-Albanian frontier.