PROPAGANDA TACTICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 February 1941, Page 5

PROPAGANDA TACTICS

Rumours have multiplied throughout the day in Belgrade, the wildest of which said that now thousands of German planes are in Bulgaria. This the Bulgarian Legation in London has denied, on the ground that Bulgaria's aerodromes could not accommodate 1000 aircraft, especially in winter. “The Times” says the object of the rumours are: — First, to alarm Turkey and Yugoslavia. specially the latter. Secondly, to try to dispose the Greeks to consider a separate peace with Italy. Thirdly, to tighten the German grip on Bulgaria, and generally prepare the ground for political domination or military aggression, whichever best suits the German policy. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Belgrade correspondent says it has now been revealed that a Yugoslav-Hungarian pact of friendship was concluded after Germany had instructed Hungary to shelve her territorial claims against Yugoslavia for the purpose of immobilising Yugoslavia in the event of a Balkan conflict. The Germans have given an assurance to Bulgaria that Turkey will remain silent unless she is directly attacked, says the Sofia correspondent of “The Times.” The German-dominated Bulgarian Press gives prominence to Gorman reports that Turkey would remain neutral in the event of military operations in the Balkans, and newspapers in their leaders declare that this has been learned from every reliable source. The majority of the Bulgarian people. the correspondent adds, sincerely believe that Turkey would raise no objection to a German passage across Bulgaria. The Belgrade representative of the “Daily Telegraph" says that Gormans declare that King Boris of Bulgaria is the chief obstacle to the German advance, apparently opposing further approaches to the Axis. If this is accurate, it means that Boris has revised his policy.