PEACE FOR BALKANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1940, Page 5

PEACE FOR BALKANS

WAR NOT BEING CARRIED TO THAT AREA

REPORTED STATEMENT FROM BERLIN.

MEETING OF ENTENTE COUNCIL PENDING.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 2.

On the eve of the meeting of the Balkan Entente Council at Belgrade, the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, interviewed in Berlin by the Greek Press, declared that neither Germany nor Russia had the slightest intention of carrying the war to the Balkans. Both were bending every effort to spare that section of Europe the horror of war.

The Rumanian Foreign Minister, M Gafencu, who is to preside at the council meeting, in a statement before departing from Bucharest, said: “Our purpose is to discover just where all four members of the Entente stand in the new European situation. The problems facing each are common to all. The main problem is the maintenance of peace, which transcends all individual interests.”

Belgrade is covered with bunting in honour of the delegates to the Entente conference. Much pomp and ceremony marked the passage of delegates through neighbouring countries. All Greek railway stations on the route of the Turkish Foreign Minister. M Saracoglu, from Istanbul were decorated with banners declaring that the friendship between Greece and Turkey must remain strong and lasting.

M Saracoglu conferred with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, M Kiosseivandff, during a 40-minute stay at Sofia. The Greek Prime Minister, General Metaxas, joined M Saracoglu’s train on the Grecian-Rumanian border. It is intended that the meeting shall wind up on Monday. Important speeches are expected at the banquet tomorrow.

No Italian, Hungarian or Bulgarian official observers are attending the conference.

ENTENTE TO CONTINUE

DECISION AT FIRST SESSION. PRECAUTIONS BY POLICE. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) BELGRADE, February 2. A morning session of the Balkan Entente decided that the Entente should continue.

As a precaution the police have rounded up several hundred suspicious people.

More than 200 journalists,' from all parts of the world are reporting the conference. The Belgrade Press treats the conference cautiously, emphasising the Yugosalvs’ intention to maintain neutrality.