The Waikato Times THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1941 POSSIBILITIES IN BALKANS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 6

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 1941 POSSIBILITIES IN BALKANS

Even Russia scorns the Bulgarian and German allegation that Bulgaria permitted the occupation of the country in the interests of peace in the Balkans. Germany, of course, has used as the main theme of its propaganda the story that the Nazis were sent into Bulgaria to keep the British out. It is astonishing that the efficacy of this line of approach should have survived so long. The truth of the matter is that the Bulgarian authorities have welcomed the Germans and are only seeking excuses to placate their neighbours. Far from being a means of keeping the Allies out of Bulgaria, the occupation is simply an invitation to make Bulgaria a new theatre of war.

It is significant that both Bulgarians and Rumanians are taking steps to ensure that their capitals shall be regarded as open towns and therefore exempt from bombing. Does this indicate any confidence that the occupation has preserved the peace of these countries ? In any case the Germans’ claim that they are merely forestalling Allied invasion will again be put to the test if the Germans attempt to enter Yugoslavia, Greece or Turkey. It surely cannot be suggested that Britain intends to invade any of those countries for the purpose of acquiring territory. German troops are now on the frontiers of all three States. Russia is not pleased with this development and has told Bulgaria so. Russia realises that Germany is already within a few miles of the only exit from the Black Sea. If she wished to stop the German occupation of Bulgaria, Russia missed her opportunity.

The stage is now set for the most important developments in the Balkans. The position is full of possibilities. Germany is acting boldly and with a show of confidence in the future, but it is within the power of Greece, Turkey, Britain and Russia, if their efforts could be combined, to teach the Nazi tyrant the greatest lesson of his life. His drive so far into the south-east is ambitious and dangerous unless his diplomatic arrangements are complete and foolproof. If Russia has any intention of stopping Hitler’s march, she has been given another opportunity. There never was such an invitation to combined action by the nations menaced by the Nazis. The whole strategy of the war could be altered in a day and Germany’s eastern front would become her greatest danger.

Germany now controls almost the whole western shore of the Black Sea down to the Turkish border. Gradually she is placing Russia in a position of extreme peril. If and when Germany chooses she can shut Russia off from every outlet excepting that into the Pacific. If Germany should overcome the Allied resistance, Russia would find herself in a hopeless position. But does she realise it ? Is she placing faith in the Alliance with Germany ? Is she relying upon the ability of the Allies to solve her problems without the necessity of going to war ? Diplomacy and intrigue are again tremendously active in south- eastern Europe.