BROKEN OFF

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 7

BROKEN OFF

BRITAIN AND BULGARIA RELATIONS SEVERED MINISTER TO RESIGN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 5 It was officially announced in London this morning that Britain had broken off diplomatic relations with Bulgaria. The step was taken at 8.30 a.m., when the British Minister to Sofia, Mr George Rendel, handed a Note to the Bulgarian Prime Minister, M. Fiioff. The news has created no surprise in London. Both the German and Italian wireless announced the news. The German radio said that Mr Rendel would leave Sofia as soon as possible. In London it is stated that Mr Rendel will probably leave in the next few days, and in the meantime may go lo Istanbul, Turkey. An American news agency staled that the United States Embassy in Sofia v/as prepared to take over British interests there. A correspondent telephoning from Sofia last night said it is expected that the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, M. Popoff, will resign shortly. The excuse given is that he is in illhealth, but it is considered that a more probable reason is because he declined to accompany M. Filoff to Vienna to sign the Three-Power Pact. It is stated that M. Filoff will take over the post of Foreign Minister. Clashes are reported in the Bulgarian capital and a number of ar - rests of politicians and students have taken place. The streets of Sofia are filled with mud-stained German lorries. German and Bulgarian troops are passing through the city. It is reported from Bucharest that ; Rumania will have 1,000,000 men under arms by March. The Government has requisitioned 17 river tugs and 36 flat-bottomed vessels belonging to Greece. BRITAIN AND GREECE MR EDEN IN ATHENS VERY SATISFACTORY TALKS DAVENTRY, March 6 The Athens radio describes the talks which have taken place between the Government and Mr Anthony Eden and General Sir John Dill as completely satisfactory. PRISONERS OF WAR BRITISH AND GERMAN DIFFERENCE IN RATIONS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 4 Questions were asked in the House of Commons about rations given to British prisoners in Germany and German prisoners in Britain. The Financial Secretary to the War Office said that, in accordance with obligations under the prisoners of war international convention, German prisoners in Britain received rations on the current scale allowed to British troops, with certain alterations made at their own request to meet national tastes. While Germany was under the same obligation regarding British prisoners in her hands, there was reason to believe this was not being observed in all cases. Such pressure as was possible was being exerted to ensure conformity with the obligation. NINE YEARS IN OFFICE MR ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE FACING GREAT CRISIS (United rrc.~s Assn. Elec. Tel. copyright) WASHINGTON, March 4 President Roosevelt, in a statement on the occasion of the opening of the ninth year of his Presidency, said the world crisis confronting America was graver than the economic crisis amid which he was inducted at White House on March 4. 1933. The President said he personally feels little different than in 1933. The situation had changed drastically during his stewardship, and today's | crisis was more serious for the future of the Government than m 1933.