PACTS POSSIBLE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20922, 29 September 1939, Page 5

PACTS POSSIBLE

POSITION OF BALKANS SOVIET-GERMAN TALKS MINISTER IN MOSCOW (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 28 When the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, arrived at Moscow, he was accompanied by a party of 37, including Herr Foerster, Nazi State President in Danzig. He was welcomed by M. Potemkin, viceCommissar of Foreign Affairs, a guard of honour and a military band. The Italian Ambassador also was present. Buildings were decorated with red flags and swastikas. A communique issued in Warsaw states that the Soviet Foreign Minister, M. Molotoft, Herr von Riboentrop and M.. Stalin participated for two hours in a talk on questions connected with developments in Poland. It is reported from Bucharest, Rumama. that the visit to Morcow of Sukru Saracoglu Bey, Turkish Foreign Minister, might lead to negotiations for a pact between Italy and Russia concerning the Balkans, under which Turkey, Rumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Greece and Hungary would unite as a neutral bloc, guaranteeing the status quo in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the backing of Italy and the Soviet. It is understood that Hungary is willing to waive her claim to Transylvania and Rumania will seek to settle the Bessarabian issue with the Soviet. It is regarded as significant that von Ribbentrop decided to go to Moscow after hearing the broad terms of Saracoglu Bey’s intended conversations. Soviet and Turkey Reliable reports from Ankara state that the Turkish Foreign Minister, Sukru Saracoglu Bey, will sign a pact before he leaves Moscow, settling the Black Sea and eastern Balkan problems with Russia. The pact will supplement Turkey’s pacts with Britain and France covering the Mediterranean and Western Balkans. The Russo-Turkish Pact includes: (1) The organisation of a Black Sea bloc including Rumania, Bulgaria and Turkey. (2) The closure of the Dardanelles Straits to all foreign warships, including British. (3) The return of Rumania’s Dobrudja province to Bulgaria. Russia renounces all claims to the Rumanian province of Bessarabia. Approval By Britain It is learned that Britain has approved of the Turco-Russian pact as it lengthens the anti-aggression front begun with Turkey's AngloFrench accords. It is also stated that Russia sees no conflict between this pact and Turkey’s ties with Britain and France. The latest reports from Paris state that a pact between Britain, France and Turkey is likely to be signed within two or three days. It will embrace a defensive alliance and the fullest co-operation in the case of a German move against the Balkans.