GERMANY CHECKMATED ?

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20920, 27 September 1939, Page 6

GERMANY CHECKMATED ?

Conjecture regarding the eastern European situation is unlimited, but it is probable that few outside of official and diplomatic circles have authentic knowledge of the developments that are undoubtedly taking place. Particularly interesting observations on the position are, however, made by a London correspondent of a New York newspaper, who believes events are developing favourably for the Allied cause, largely because of the diplomatic initiative taken by Turkey. Before the censorship was imposed the foreign correspondents of the great newspapers almost invariably reported accurately on such movements, and in this instance there is reason to suppose the correspondent has good grounds for his statement.

“The Balkan situation,” the correspondent states, “turns towards the creation of a bloc of concerted neutral Powers embracing all the Balkan States, and guaranteed by Russia, Turkey and Italy. The Balkans appear to be excluded for good from the theatre of war, thus protecting the Mediterranean and restricting German military activity. Already Hitler has been thrown back in the east, where he was able to crush the Poles at the price of allowing Russia to mobilise 100 divisions on the Vistula-Carpathian line, thus creating the permanent menace of a stab in Germany’s back immediately she weakens in the west. She has also lost the Ukraine and the prospect of seizing Rumania’s economic resources.” Whether this is in fact the situation that has been reached depends mostly upon Rus: . s relations with Germany. Apart from this still indefinite factor, there is sound logic in the rest of the argument. There can be no general desire in the Balkans for absorption by Germany, and the formation of a diplomatic confederation for mutual protection seems to be the only reasonable procedure. If Germany is thus checkmated in the east she will have to turn back and face the stern realities of war in the west while the Allied blockade continues to tighten its stranglehold.