ORDERS FROM AXIS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21205, 30 August 1940, Page 7

ORDERS FROM AXIS

PLIGHT OF RUMANIA NO SURPRISE IN LONDON URGENT SUMMONS TO VIENNA l United Press Assn.—Elec. Tet, Copyright) LONDON, August 28 The report that the German and Italian Governments have summoned to Vienna representatives of Rumania to discuss with them and the Hungarian representatives the deadlock in the negotiations between Rumania and Hungary has caused no surprise in Britain. Some such development was expected as soon as it was apparent that the parties had not succeeded in carrying out the instructions dictated to them some weeks ago when the Danubian statesmen attended at Salzburg. It was accepted throughout the world that these instructions were that the parties were to reach an accommodation between themselves without delay, so as to alleviate tension and the danger of hostilities which might prove embarrassing to the Axis partners. Failing, an agreement between the parties, a settlement would be imposed. Summons to Vienna Incidents between the Hungarian and Rumanian armed forces, of which there have been reports, no doubt account for the urgent summons to Vienna. The meeting there will not be the first of this kind since the Austrian capital came under Nazi domination. Diplomatic observers in London are recalling another meeting at which a settlement was effected. On November 2, 1938, Germany and Italy imposed a so-called arbitral award on Czechoslovakia by which she was forced to cede portions of her territory to Hungary. The arbitration was undertaken ostensibly at the request of the Czechoslovak Government, as well as that of Hungary, but the result in fact was one further stage in the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia, which became a vassal State of Germany. The precedent is not exactly happy in its implications for the Rumanian people, whose attachment to Transylvania is deep and sincere, as shown by their sturdy resistance to the idea of accepting inflated Hungarian claims. Whatever the terms with which Rumania may find herself confronted at Vienna, a large part of the Rumanian people will not be deluded. They will realise that by agreeing to the award of the Axis Powers, Rumania will have done nothing to assure the remains of her independence.

The Berlin radio stated that the chief of the S.S. police, Herr Heid- ! rich, has been appointed president of the International Commission of I Criminal Police, with which 33 coun- i tries, including Britain, arc atili I nominally connected. *