BALKAN POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 July 1940, Page 5

BALKAN POLICY

HITLER ISSUES ORDERS TO RUMANIA TRANSFER OF TERRITORIES. TO HUNGARY & BULGARIA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 27. The Budapest correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says Germany has instructed Rumanian to negotiate with Bulgaria and Hungary, according to reports circulating in official circles. It is understood that Hitler told the Rumanian delegates, the Premier, M. Gigurtu, and Foreign Minister, M. Manoilescu, during their conference at Berchtesgaden, that negotiations must start at the earliest moment in order to maintain peace in South-Eastern Europe. He is reported to have exerted pressure on Rumania to cede the southern Dobruja and Transylvania and expressed the desire for closer relations between Rumania, Bulgaria and Hungary, even to the exent of a military accord. A Berlin report says Hitler received the Bulgarian representatives. Professor Filoff and M. Popoff, at Berchtesgaden. They conferred for two hours, after which the Bulgarians left for Sofia. A German statement said the conference was held in a cordial spirit and the traditional friendship of both countries. Tomorrow Hitler will meet the representatives of the Slovak Government. It is reported from Rome that MM. Gigurtu and Manoilescu have arrived there. SOVIET CHARGE ALLEGED ATROCITIES. AGAINST REFUGEES BOUND FOR BESSARABIA. MOSCOW, July 27. The radio bitterly attacked the Rumanians for atrocities against refugees going to Bessarabia. “Men, women and children from Galatz were herded all day in the blazing sun and then crowded on to barges for three 'days, being beaten, derided, and repeatedly searched and robbed,” it says. “They then entrained for Prut without food and water, and were finally thrust into a ditch and surrounded by machine-guns. At any moment they expected to be massacred, but were allowed to go to Russia. Two, who were detained were subsequently shot.” According to a Moscow message received in London, the Rumanian Government has now admitted unjust treatment to Bessarabians, and has promised that it will take steps to prevent a repetition of any such incidents in the future. BRITISH PROTEST AGAINST RUMANIAN ACTIONS. SHIPS SEIZED IN REPRISAL. LONDON. July 27. The recent actions of the Rumanian Government have caused dissatisfaction in London and a formal protest |is being considered. The Rumanian Government has taken a number of measures directly designed to injure British interests in RumaniaIt has placed restrictions on the movement of British shipping on the Danube and has enforced measures gravely detrimental to British oil interests by the expulsion of British engineers from Rumania and by interfering with the administration of the Astra-Romana Company. Meanwhile the British Governnient is holding itself free to impose such measures as it may see fit by way of reprisal for the actions of the Rumanian Government and has held up three Rumanian ships at Port Said. It is learned in London that the British detention of these ships fol- , lowed the Rumanian seizure of more than 20 British-owned barges on the Danube. A Berlin radio broadcast stated that Rumania had confiscated British ships in Rumanian harbours as a reprisal for the Port Said seizures. The British protest to the Rumanian Government- is being macle by the British Minister in Bucharest, a Daventry broadcast states. No fresh developments are reported. MILITARY PACT SOVIET & YUGOSLAVIA NEGOTIATING. COUNTER TO AXIS PRESSURE. ■ LONDON. July 27. The “Daily Express” says Russia and Yugoslavia have moved a step nearer a military pact with the Soviet dispatch of eight delegates to Belgrade, professedly to resume trade talks. But under cover of these talks Russia and Yugoslavia have been discussing a military alliance as a counter to the increasing Axis pressure in the Balkans. It is reported from Belgrade that a i wheat shortage .in Yugoslavia is hindering trade talks between Yugoslavia and Germany. Germany insists that Yugoslavia deliver her remaining quota of 3500 truck-loads of wheat, phis a 1 further allotment .of 20,000 truck-loads of wheat and 10,000 of maize this year. The “Politka” says: “The crop is so bad that we cannot deliver even a part of these demands without endangering our own needs. We shall be short of wheat in February arid March unless we take drastic measures. It will be impossible, also, to export cattle fodder ■ this year.”