March 5.
On the day the Bulgars were celebrating, the 63rd, anniversary of their liberation from the Turks they passed into the slavery of the Nazi Reich, Their freedom has not last~ ed a century and a people predominantly Slav has been betrayed into the overlordship of Hitler. It remains now for Great Britain and her Allies to liberate her with the other countries which have been overrun. In the meantime the Germans are taking swift ad~ Vantage of the permission accorded by the adherence of Bulgaria to the Axis, and large forces are moving into strategic positions for the purpose of applying the pressure which it is believed is necessary to force Greece to discuss peace with Italy. The reaction of Soviet Russia and Turkey to this latest deve~ Jopment follows lines which could easily be anticipated, Russia, seeing almost the last stronghold of her influence in the Balkans swallowed up by the Nazis, expresses dis~ approval of what the Bulgarian Government has done, but apart from withholding support from, it, is apparently, prepared to take no active step. M. Vishinsky, the Soviet Com~ missar for Foreign Affairs, has made the position of the Kremlin quite clear. The Boviet Government does not share the view of the Bulgarian Government as to the ce rectness of their attitude in this question, as: this attitude, independently of whether the Bulgarian Government wishes it or not, can~ not lead to the consolidation of peace, but to extension of the sphere of war in which Bulgaria becomes involved.
"Yugoslavia is the one remaining country in which Russian influence is still felt. Tt quite clear that in the near future, if indeed the process has not already started, Hitler will endeavour to persuade Yugoslavia to enter his flock of subservient nations. Should she refuse to do so the result would inevitably be an invasion by German forces, and, as Hitler has succeeded in whittling down Balkan unity, Yugoslavia would stand alone against all the might Hitler would be able to throw into the field. Furthermore, completely cut off from the outside world as she now is, there is little chance of assistance being sent to her, and the possibility of the whole of the Balkan peninsula being swallow= od up by the Reich—temporarily, it is true, cannot be disregarded.
Bulgaria's abject surrender has not been without its effect upon Turkey. There is a possibility that Turkey will, now regard the Tecently arranged non-aggression pact as no Tonger in existence It would logically follow on the step the Bulgarian Government has taken. That does not mean that Turkey would embark upon any adventure in the Balkans, but would prefer to remain strictly fon the defensive. The Turkish newspaper "Ulus" correctly sums up the situation as it has now developed. The Turko-Bulgarian agreement reaffirmed Bulgaria's intention not to resort fo arms to settle problems with her neighbours, but it all now depends on the way in which the obligations contained in the Tripartite-Bulgarian alliance are applied. There are reports in circulation, at present without confirmation, to the effect that some German divisions have been sent to the Turko-Bulgarian frontier. Tt may be confidently expected that Turkey will take the measures necessary to offset that development, but even then it does not follow that she will do anything more than remain on the defensive.
What Hitler {s endeavouring to do ts to bring about the surrender of Turkey to the Axis by means of a wor of nerves. Obvious~ ly, however, the expression of Soviet dissatisfaction over the action taken by Bul-aria will act as a direct encouragement to the Turkish Government with which the Soviet has a definite understanding, and the chances of Hitler succeeding against Turkey appear to be indeed very small. If Hitler could break the Anglo-Turkish Alliance he would indeed obtain a signal success, for it would open the way to the oil of which he in such urgent need. The Drag nach Ssu: Osten Is for the purpose of reaching those sources of supplies, which, added to the oil from Rumania, would make the Germans almost self-sufficient in that respect. What he cannot secure by diplomacy he will have to Beek to obtain by force of arms, and if this means that he will be obliged to carry
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.