If it were not so tragic the situation in the Balkans would verge on the amusing, for never before has Herr Hitler been obliged to bow before the dictates of another Power, and that Power, Soviet Russia. The attempt by the Balkan states to form a neutral bloc for their own protection, and to avoid being entangled in this present war has met with the disapproval of the Kremlin, which sees in the movement also an attempt to prevent the further spread lof Bolshevism. German-Soviet efforts to prevent the formation of the proposed bloc have, it is reported for the moment produced à deadlock in the negotiations, and that, apparently, because they are under the threat of action either by Germany or Russia or by those two nations in concert It is reported that acting on instructions from Moscow, the Third Reich has notified the Balkan states that they would consider the formation of such a bloc, supported by Turkey as unfriendly because of the existence of the Anglo-French-Turkish mutual aid pact. And so Herr Hitler again jumps through the ring at the crack of M. Stalin's whip. Meantime uneasiness is being demonstrated in Italy, where by means of broadcast commentaries, notice has been served on Soviet Russia warning against any attempts to Bolshevize the Balkans. Italy has been silently supporting Yugoslavia's attempts to prevent the further spread westwards of Bolshevism, for that would mean the end of Italian influence in that part lof the world. She finds herself in this respect completely at variance with her old friend Germany, and there can be little doubt thatthe very attenuated, bonds which unite the two countries are becoming increasingly slender. That Italy may soon find herself in a state of complete isolation is a distinct probability, unless Signor Mussolini could find it possible to modify his attitude with regard to Bolshevism. That on the face of things is unlikely, for it is not to be thought that the man who rescued his country from the threat of it, would now permit it to gain sway. In the future the world may see a most interesting tug-of-war in the Balkans for Il Duce cannot consent to a spread, of communistic doctrines in that area, nor will he readily abandon the position of influence which Italy has always sought to maintain in that part of Europe. The time may come when both Germany and Russia will have to be told that in unmistakeable terms, in which event a dangerous situation will be created.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.