BELATED ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1941, Page 5

BELATED ACTION

Over late though it seems, considerable opposition to Germany has also arisen in Bulgaria, where the Opposition leader, and even some Germanophile members of Parliament, have told the Premier, Professor Filoff, that i Bulgaria will face a revolution if she does not resist occupation. The Communists are organising anti-German and anti-war propaganda throughout Bulgaria. Bulgaria is jittery, and the tension has been heightened by an explosion at the railway station of Dragoman of a 42 tank-wagon train carrying aviation spirit to Germany. The blazing spirit set fire to the station and the fire lasted for hours and was visible from Yugoslavia. Sabotage is freely mentioned, but there is no accurate information as to the cause. Greece has ordered Greek women and children home from Bulgaria. THE SOVIET SPHINX i Russia’s attitude remains a complete i mystery. M. Soboleff, General Secre- ! tary of the Soviet Commissariat of I Foreign Affairs, is reported to have I told King Boris that the Soviet Union would not consider Bulgaria an indei penent State if she did not offer resisi tance to the German infiltration. Rumanian sources suggested that the Soviet might recognise de facto German occupation in exchange for air and naval bases on the Rumanian and Bulgarian coasts. The Bulgarian police seized the passport of a United States diplomatic courier. Mr. Raymond Leddy, who was cn route to Istanbul. His legation energetically protested, while the i Turks have allowed Mr. Leddy to <?n- ] ter without a passport. Britain’s breach of relations has. greatly impressed Rumanian political , authorities, who are anxiously asking ] why Britain wants the freedom of ac- j ti<»n. It is generally believed that this presages reprisals, possibly by arms. The stall of the Rumanian Legation in London is ready to leave. The "Daily Telegraph's” Belgrade correspondent says that Britain 1® be- | lieved to be planning counter-moves to check the German Balkans drive. The Yugoslav Ambassador to Turkey has returned secretly for a conference with h.s Regent, Prince Paul, presumably bringing a British offer to Yugoslavia.