BALKAN MOVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1941, Page 5

BALKAN MOVES

TURKEY CONSIDERING REPLY TO HITLER CONTENTS OF FUHRER’S MESSAGE NOT DISCLOSED PROMISE OF ARAB ASSISTANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, March 5. Britain this morning broke off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria, it was officially announced in London today. The Minister to Sofia, Mr. Rendel, at i 8.30 a.m. presented to the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Professor Filoff, a Note announcing this decision. It is stated in London that Mr. Rendel will leave Bulgaria within two or three days and may go for the time being to Istanbul, Turkey. The Turkish Government will today consider a reply to the message sent yesterday by Herr Hitler. Neither Berlin nor Ankara states the contents of the message. In a message to Turkey the Emir of Transjordiana said that if Turkey is attacked, the “wnole Arab world will rush to her aid. ’ Concurrently with assertions by the Axis that there are no German troops on the Turkish frontier the German aeroplane which was reported en route to Ankara arrived yesterday carrying a delegation with a “message of friendship” from the Fuehrer to President Inonu. The German Ambassador, Herr von Papen, took the delegation to the President at noon. They talked with him and the Foreign Minister, M. Saracoglu, for half an hour, and the Cabinet and the Chief of Staff, Marshal Chakmak, met at 2 p.m., and continueda discussion till nightfall. President Inonu, according to the Ankara radio, asked Papen to thank Hitler for his of courtesy. ANXIETY IN SYRIA MILITARY DISPOSITIONS REVISED. LONDON, March 4. A message from Jerusalem states that the occupation of Bulgaria has caused anxiety in Syria, where authorities have revised military dispositions, reinforced frontier garrisons, and strengthened defence works. A checkup is being' made of foreigners, 25 of whom are being expelled. YUGOSLAVIA WARNED AGAINST SIGNING PACT WITH AXIS. TURKEY’S STRAIGHT TALK. ANKARA, March 5. The Turkish radio broadcast the following message to Yugoslavia: “It is

better to die than sign the Axis Pact. Remember Rumania’s fate. Immediately she signed the pact she lost her independence, pride and liberty. Why have the Germans turned to south-east Europe? Because they daren’t attack Britain directly, but these Balkan manoeuvres will not affect the result of the war. Turkey is now a steel fortress and ready to obey the orders of one man.”