REPORTS & RUMOURS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1941, Page 5

REPORTS & RUMOURS

MISSION OF THE YUGOSLAV MINISTERS ITALY NOT CONSULTED. FOR REASONS APPARENT TO MUSSOLINI. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 17. The visit of the Yugoslav leaders on Friday to Berchtesgaden is the subject of the usual crop of unconfirmed reports and rumours, the origin of which is in no doubt. AU are clearly designed to cloak possible Nazi moves. On their return to Belgrade the Prime Minister, M. Tsvetkovitch. and the Foreign Minister. M. Markovitch, reported to the Regent of Yugoslavia, Prince Paul, on their mission, upon which they embarked with the hope of learning something of the German j intentions. There is no reason to I doubt that, following familiar techi nique, attempts wore made by Hitler to buy Yugoslav acquiescence in the German encirclement of their country with bribes and half-veiled threats — the bribes including promises in the economic field and territorial gains at the expense of third parties. For reasons too apparent to Mussolini. whose Albanian campaign has been almost as disastrous as the North Africa debacle. Italy does not appear to have been consulted in the formula- j lion of Germany's Balkan plans. On the subject of the Turkish-, Bulgarian'agreement of friendship, it I is commented that for some time past j Turkey’s diplomatic efforts have been! consistently directed to the difficult, task of building up a united front j among the Balkan countries for the purpose of resisting Axis aggression. Having regard, however, to the advanced condition of the German entry into Bulgaria, it is hard to see how the actual political situation in the Balkans can be seriously affected, by the present agreement. It may safely be assumed that Turkey will have safeguarded her freedom of action under her existing treaty obligations. As might be expected. German propaganda is already at work concerning this agreement. ‘

NO SURPRISE TURKISH-BULGARIAN AGREEMENT. LONDON KEPT INFORMED. LONDON. February 18. in London it is stated that the talks were begun by the Turkish Government weeks ago with the knowledge and good will of the British Government. German in- : filtratlons which were taking place during the negotiations have pro- I bably diminished as a result of the I latest decision. It is suggested in Athens that Turkey may claim a diplomatic success in! encouraging Bulgaria not to enter into! aggression against Turkey or Greece, and that Turkey still remains a bastion | against further aggression. Attention is also drawn to the recent discussions between the British ami Turkish Gen-; oral Staffs, in which full agreement! was reached, i ROME PROPAGANDA TALK OF TURKEY REMAINING 1 NEUTRAL. - (Received This Day. 0.35 am.) LONDON. February 111 Rome is following Berlin's line of! comment, claiming that Britain has suf-!! fered a diplomatic defeat. The Italian Propaganda Ministry has instructed the; Press to give the greatest possible pro-' minehce to the development at Sofiti, j; and expects Turkey to remain neutral if events in Bulgaria du not directly j ' threaten her