Berne, Mar. 23.
Herr Hitler's far-reaching scheme io give the Balkan nations tripartite German-Soviet-Italian guarantees of security whether they want such pledges or not is meeting with considerable difficulties, reports from Central Europe showed today.
Countries approached by the Reich or which otherwise learned of the plot have shown no enthusiasm at all and are, on the other hand, most sceptical, Budapest reported.
In Belgrade, the "Basler Nachrichten" pointed out, political quarters are puzzling over the problem of how Yugoslavia could possibly accept a Soviet guarantee when she has not even recognized the existence of the Soviet State.
Particularly strong Italian pressure would be required to persuade Belgrade to change its attitude, the newspaper said.
Balkan quarters in general declared the plan would not and could not be put into effect as first reports indicated after the Hitler-Mussolini meeting at the Brenner Pass. Perhaps, they even stated, the whole plan is a manœuvre to compel Russia to adopt a more reserved policy in the Balkans, where Germany fears Soviet expansion.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.