March 27.
While the Axis Powers are making a great to do about the adhesion of Yugoslavia to the Tripartite Pact the "Nichi Nichi" very naively describes it as "a diplomatic victory for the Axis Powers which will deal a serious' blow fo the Anglo-American camp, and accelerate complete German mastery over the Balkans." That is precisely the case, for] the Yugoslav Government, having sold its country cut in the manner it has, has taken a step which must inevitably lead to it becoming just as much under German domintance 2s Rumania and Bulgaria, neither of! which, despite a facade of independence, now thas a' soul to call its own. 'The safeguards which the Yugoslav statesmen think they obtain, by the omission of the usual military' undertakings in the modified Pact which they thave signed, are purely imaginary. By per~ mitting the passage of German war material and hospital trains through the country they have opened the way for German penetration, Hitler's men will control the railways. Germans will be Stationed at all essential points, and even if the German occupation under this present scheme is no more than their occupation of Italy, it is nevertheless fraught with considerable dangers to the Yugoslavs.
The step which the Yugoslav Government has taken is thoroughly unpopular throughout the country, especially with the Serbs and the Croats. It is not dificult to see that irreconcilables, who prefer their country's honour to dishonour, will seek to obstruct, the Germans, and sabotage may be con-dently expected. The Germans appear to have recognized this by demanding amongst their other terms that the Yugoslav Government shall repress hostile elements. Should the Government be unable to do that an excellent excuse will be given Hitler for denouncing this latest agreement, and, reinforcing the troops which will in any' event be in Yugoslavia looking after the transit of war materials, seize the country with just as much ease as they have other countries The danger to Yugoslavia is indeed a grave one, and it may be regarded as inevitable that German occupation of that country is now only a matter of time.
'While there should be no denying of the fact that, by securing the adhesion of Yugoslavia to the Tripartite Pact, Germany has Indeed secured a diplomatic' success, there should be no tendency to over-emphasize its importance. Despite the fact that such a step is unpopular in the country, there was every reason to believe the Yugoslav leaders would succeed in betraying their people as they have. The trip fo Vienna was conand @iscounted in advance. Adently expected by Britain and her Allies
Indeed Britain was swift to make the necessary dispositions to deal with the new situation which would then be created, and the very fact that she has done so is ample proof of the absence of any clement of surprise in what the Yugoslav Government has now done. Whatever British forees are now in Greece it may be taken for granted that as the situation in northern and north-eastern, Africa is cleared up, further reinforcements, will become available, and that very con siderable additional assistance will be sent to the Greeks, not only in men but also in is expected that Germany will now seek to bring pressure to bear upon Turkey to follow the Yugoslav example. Ankara's hands have been greatly strengthened by the Soviet assurance that it would remain strictly neutral should Turkey become involved in war, and the importance of the Turkish Government's announcement of its determina~ tion to defend its interests wherever menaced) is thereby considerably enhanced. With her year thus protected by the Soviet's action 'Turkey is relieved of any anxiety on that score, end is as 9 result better enabled to meet' any menace which Hitler may endeavour to offer her. Turkey can and will prevent Germany from reaching and dominate {ing the Dardanelles, can and will defend liber interests wherever they are threatened, and Hitler will ting her a much more difeult country to deal with than any of those he has succeeded in tricking into subjection in the Balkans. Placed in its proper perspec tive the success with regard to Yugoslavia may be regarded as a foregone conclusion, and about the last of such feats which Germany is able to perform.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.