BALKAN ISSUES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1940, Page 5

BALKAN ISSUES

ATTITUDE OF RUMANIA ITALO-HUNGARIAN EFFORTS APPROVED. BUT PEACE NOT TO BE BOUGHT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 11. The Bucharest correspondent of “The Tinies” says that Rumania whole-heartedly approves of the Italian, and Hungarian efforts for peace in south-eastern. Europe, but is not prepared to buy .it at the cost of territorial concessions to Russia. Hungary or Bulgaria. It is authoritatively stated that the Italian-Hungarian agreement is based on acceptance of an Italian plan for post-war revision of territories in the Balkans under which Rumania would cede purely her Hungarian and Bulgarian frontier and adjust the mixed regions either by a plebiscite or by transfer.

One result of the talks last week at Venice between the Italian and Hungarian Foreign Ministers has been revealed by the Rome radio. It states that Italy has agreed to send military aid to Hungary if she is threatened by a Soviet invasion. This is not official but is said to be given on good authority. Hungary has agreed for the present to drop her claim against Rumania for the return of Transylvania, the reason being the more immediate menace from the Soviet, though this is not considered acute so long as Finland holds out.

Italy, the Rome radio claims, is now organising the Balkans. Referring to her policy of neutrality, the station said that Italy was increasing her strength in order to be strong enough to keep out of war. Italy was not neutral, but had refrained from taking military action.

REPORT DENIED ITALIAN MILITARY AID FOR HUNGARY. (Received This Day. 10.10 a.m.) ROME. January 11. A Rome radio report, that Italy has agreed militarily to assist Hungary, is officially denied.