Entente; Reich Seeking Supplies; Italy Jealous London, Feb. 4. The attitude of the Powers indirectly interested in the meeting in Belgrade of the Balkan-Entente of Turkey, Greece, Rumania and Yugoslavia, is summed up in London today as follows:—Germany's main considerations are to get supplies of food and oil in more increasing quantities, and prevent a itary bloc among the Powers that would eventually strengthen their potential resistance.
Italy has worked for an improvement in the relations between Hungary, Yugoslavia.and Rumania, and would be glad to strengthen the power and resistance of these states to any Russian advance. Italy, however, is jealous of Turkey in any Balkan bloc, and is therefore not anxious to see the present Entente strengthened The Allies and Germany, locked in a dramatic behind-the-scenes struggle for economic predominance in the Balkans, were stealing the show from the Entente members at the conference, Such was the British pressure to counter-act any preliminary success Germany might have had from economic negotiations with Rumania, that reports were allowed to circulate freely regarding the possibility that Britain had sent troops to the Turkish straits to tighten her blockade and protect the Dardanelles.
These reports had no official confirmation, but were credited with giving a bàd case of nerves to diplomatic circles, who foresaw the necessity of the respective Balkan nations mobilizing in the event Britain took added military measures in the Black Sea area. It was pointed out that by forcing Balkan mobilization Britain would be playing her trump card, because it would cut by one-third the export of foodstuffs from south-eastern Europe to Germany and, in addifior, would tend to tie communications.
Germany, who oddly appeared to be using the Turks as go-betweens at Belgrade, was understood to have exerred pressure to obtain Rumanian freedom of aid from the Allies.
Russia is saving the Bessarabian question until she is prepared to deal with it. She would certainly hate to see Germany get the advantage but an agreement giving Germany the Rumanian oilfields and Rumanian coasts section cannot be left out.
Allies Strive to Strengthen Entente Great Britain and France want to see the Balkan Entente strengthened and able to resist both economic and political pressure from outside. They will naturally participate in a policy of economic warfare to prevent, as for as possible, the Germans from getting supplies from the Balkans. At the same time, they have every interest in the maintenance of peace and understanding between south-western Europeen states.
Hungary and Bulgaria, two states who have a claim against the entente nations, seem for the time being to have adopted a moderate attitude. This, in the case of Hungary, can be attributed to Italien advice, and in the case of Bulgaria to the influence of Turkey.
The mere fact that the entente is practically prolonged for another seven years is already an important result of the meeting at Belgrade. It is unlikely then thet there will be any substantial alterations in the mutual economic relations between the four Balkan countries.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.