BRITISH MINISTER

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 8

BRITISH MINISTER

FAREWELL TO KINO BORIS INDICTMENT OF BULGARIA ACTIVE HELP FOR NAZIS fOmclal Wireless) (Received March 6, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 5 Mr G. Rendel, British Minister at Sofia, had a brief farewell audience with King Boris this morning. In announcing Britain's decision to sever diplomatic relations with Bulgaria to the Premier, M. Filoff, and asking for his passports, Mr Rendel presented a Note, which stated that although M. Filoff had said that the German Government had declared that the task of the German troops was to safeguard the peace and tranquility of the Balkans it was clear that the German aim was to menace and, if necessary, attack Britain’s Ally, Greece, The Note added that the British Government was forced to conclude that the Bulgarian Government, far from desiring to maintain neutrality, was now prepared actively to cooperate with Germany. Proof was to be found in the Bulgarian Government breaking off diplomatic relations on Tuesday with Britain's allies —Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Mr Rendel reminded M. Filoff that Britain was at war with Germany and therefore could not maintain diplomatic relations with a country which was no-t only harbouring a growing force of German troops, but was also increasingly subservient to the German policy. IN ABYSSINIA SUCCESS OF PATRIOTS IMPORTANT FORT OCCUPIED MANY ITALIANS DESERTING « (Oflirlal Wireless) (Received March 6, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 5 A Cairo headquarters communique states: In Libya, Eritrea ana Italian j Somaliland there is nothing import- , ant to report. In Abyssinia the Gojjam patriotic j forces yesterday occupied the im- ! portant fort at Buyre, and now arc , harassing the Italian column which is i withdrawing toward Debramarcos. j In this area 1500 Italian irregulars 1 and 200 colonial troops deserted to j join the patriots. GERMANY'S FUNDS HUGE SUM IN AMERICA VERY FAVOURABLE POSITION | (United Tress Assn.—Elec, m Copyright, ! (Received March G. 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 5 I Official data of international 1 finance reveal that Germany's funds I in the United States total 300,000.000 ; dollars and are increasing faster than ; they can be spent, but part is being j diverted to propaganda purposes. j A large share of the assets held here were purchased with approximately 500,000,000 dollars worth of , gold Germany obtained from reserves i seized from occupied Europe. With this gold official deposit ! accounts are evened in neutral ! nations, which in turn are exchanged I lor drawing power on the neutrals’ J balances in New York and other j money markets. Reliable sources affirmed that the j Geiman financial position is so i favourable that some dollar assets j for which the Germans lind no use ! arc being transierred to hard- \ pressed Japanese. LOOTING IN BRITAIN JUDGE’S STRONG COMMENT I PEOPLE SENT TO GAOL U'nftcd Press .sen.—Elec. lei. Copyright) j (Received March G, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 5 1 Declaring that he and other Judges j were determined to stamp out loot- j ;ng, Mr Justice Oliver sentenced six Sheffield looters to a total imprison- * ment oi 20 years ana nine months. j “The law puts looters in the same , category as murderers, because it I provides for the death penalty,” said j the Judge. “The day may be ap- , proaching when they will be treated j as such. There are still some people r.ot appreciating the seriousness of looting. “Many looters are operating on a wholesale scale. Two men abandoned well-paid positions to take up the more remunerative looting." AMERICAN MARINES BATTALIONS FOR SAMOA DEFENSIVE LINE EXTENDED (United Tress Assn—fcli»e. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 4 The San Diego representative of the North American Newspaper Alliance says two motorised battalions of marines, equipped with the most extensive armament, sailed south-west. It is understood they are destined for Samoa and Christmas Island, thus closing the strategic gap and providing stepping-stones for surface and aerial craft between Hawaii and Australia. Simultaneously this move brings American forces closer to Singapore and extends the American defensive line from the United States tc Hawaii find the Philippines.