1941-03-25 — Page 16

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 25, 1941.

BRITISH NOTE TO YUGOSLAVIA

To Sign Pact With Axis Against Country's Wishes

ALTHOUGH INTIMATIONS FROM BELGRADE SUGGEST THAT THE GESTURE IS TOO LATE AND THAT YUGOSLAVIAN GOVERN- MENT INTENDS TO SURRENDER TO GERMAN PRESSURE AGAINST THE VIGOROUSLY EXPRESSED POPULAR FEELING IN THE COUN- TRY, THE BRITISH MINISTER IN BELGRADE, ON INSTRUCTIONS, YESTERDAY HANDED A NOTE TO THE YUGOSLAVIAN GOVERN- MENT.

CIVIL WAR THREAT OVER YUGOSLAVIA

to

(Continued from Page 11 efforts made yesterday to cover up Bel- the constitutional crisis in grade and the profound popular opposition to any concession Nazi demands, of which it is the expression, in order to enable the Yugoslav Premier, Tsvetkovitch, and Foreign Minister, Cincar- Markovitch, to proceed to Vienna at Hitler's behest.

According to these messages, the Yugoslov deletes will travel overnight and Berlin is already heralding for this afternoon an-' other well-staged "diplomatic" triumph.

Stop Gaps

S'HAI BANK CLOSED

Reuters have been author- ised to make the following statement; "The Shanghai branch of the Central Bank of China announces that owing to damage caused by yester- day's bon bing of the bank's premises, the offices of the Bank will be temporarily closed for repairs."--Reuter.

are found to fall short of full German requirements, the Yugo- slav Government are in great dan- In Be grade, stop gaps have, ger of discovering that they have turning which with difficulty, been found to all taken the fatal two of the Cabinet vacancies leads in a short time to the hum- subjugation which caused by the resignation of three Ministers who refused to acquiesce one people after another have suf- In any agreement giving the Ger-fered since they have put them- mans opportunities of increased selves in the power of the Nazis. pressure against Yugoslav inde-i pendence and strong influenc" has; been brought to bear on the third to withdraw his resignation.

Agency reports suggest the au- thorities are taking strong mea- sures to control any public mani- testation of popular discontentment with Germany.

decision.

iliation and Sir Ronald Campbell's instructions came from Mr. Anthony Eden in Cairo, and it is understood there that the British Note was in - and a the nature of a last moment appeal ·

Pro-Nazi In Charge warning

The Note states the British attitude once

Of Radio again in clear terms and appeals to the Yugo, with the Governments decal

slav Government not to betray Yugoslavia's past in the face of rising public opinion.

Reports reaching Lon- don from Belgrade state

British offcial circles in Cairo that the Board of Direc-

Goy.. comment that the British tors of the Belgrade Radio

ernment has repeatedly made it to Yugoslavia Station has been dissolved

clear that were by order of the Govern follow the example of Rumania a State Com-and Bulgaria, she would do her- ment and

self mortal injury and that, in could they missar installed.

of any He is stated to be M. Jovano- condone the signature vitch, formerly Chief Censor, and agreement which would inevitab. known for his Pro-German ten-ly range Yugoslavia beside Ger-

many and Italy.

dencies.

Radio has Recently, Belgrade been giving patriotic programmes which have stimulated the spirit of resistance of the public to the Government's policy of conces- sions to Germany. Reuter.

LEX

no circumstances,

in

It seems doubtful whether the Note will have any effect.

It was freely predicted well-informed quarters in Bet. grade last night that the pact with the Axis would be signed

Sole Agents for

"NORVIC"

"MASCOT"

"SIR HERBERT BARKER"

and

"FINN-FLEX”

SHOES

Made by the Norvic Shoe CJ., Northampton.

In these brands of highclass footwear you are assured of finding your requirements, whether they are for a lightweight shoe or one of sturdy construction.

SLIPPERS

Brown, Black, Red and Blue with soft and solid leather soles in all sizes.

Wm. POWELL, Ltd.

10, ICE HOUSE STREET:

to

It is significant that among the measures announced is an order by the Minister of War confining the Army to barracks.

Fatal Turning

The British Minister in Belgrade not failed in this crisis to has bring home to Prince Paul and his Ministers, without any equi- vocation, the dangers which they would court in signing any agree-

Bulgarian Example

Undoubtedly among the results of any policy of weakness on part the of their Government which in Vienna to-day (Tuesday) Foreign and the Premier and

Yugoslav people would most bit- terly resent would be the possible Minister were expected

the There is no reliable information alienation of the feeling of leave last night.

by They were received

the on the character of the instrument | British people and the loss of con-

lacts with Britain. Paul. late on to be signed in Vienna but even

They have certainly taken to Regent. Prince

British if, as is not impossible in view of

the example of Bulgaria,

has Sunday night, and the

been declared an Nole was handed to the Govern. the importance of appeasing na-heart ment by Sir Ronald Campbell tional sentiment and the patriotic which

fervour of the great mass of Yu- enemy-occupied territory.-British yesterday morning.

goslav people. Its published forms Wireless.

Vichy Report

the According to

Vichy-con- the pac! trolled Lyons Radio, which the Yugoslav Government to sign has apparently agreed

Axis Powers. will be similar to the Pacts with the other minor with the exception of Paragraph Five dealing with the passage of German troops through the coun- try.

is

is This, it

believed, eliminated from the Yugoslavia documents of adherence.

The Greeks have had a com- ment to make

the develop-

ments.

on

Greek Protest

ما

Referring to the report that Yugoslavia's pact agrees

the transport of war materials across Yugoslavian territory, the Greek Press Minister in ព statement broadcast yesterday by Athens Radio declared:

"THE GREEK PEOPLE RE- FUSES TO BELIEVE THAT THE YUGOSLAVIAN · PEOPLE COULD EVER ACCEPT A CON- DITION SO. HUMILIATING TO THEMSELVES OR SO INIMICAL TO GREECE.

Ministers Leave

Later.

The Yugoslav Prime Minister, M. Tsvetkovitch, and the Foreign Minister, M. Cincar Markovitch, have left Belgrade for, Germany, accompanied by van Herren, the German Minister, according to a Belgrade despatch to the German News Agency.

Many members of the Govern- ment, says the report, Including the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr.. Matchék, and the Hungarian and Italian Ministers, and members of the German Legation staff. were present at the station to see them off.

Public Left In Complete Ignorance

Dr. Matchek, Vice Prime-Min- ister and Croat Leader, will be present at the signing of the Yugoslav German Pact He will leave for Vienna by air-to-day,

The special train taking the Primerl Minister and Foreign Minister to Germany - la most carefully guarded and precau. tions: Have been taken through-. -out the' capital' In case of de-

monstrations. S

The. Yugoslav public are still being kept in complete ignorance of the dramatle change in the situation.

STOP PRESS

issued

In a communique simultaneously, the Soviet and Turkish Governments announce that the Soviet has informed Turkey she may count on Moscow's "'entire unuerstanding and neutrality" should she be attacked and go of to war for the defence her territory." Turkey un- dertakes to adopt a similar attitude should Russia be the victim of aggression,--Reuter,

Tha" preffe **wpqzini?" té "ketODCAS used by the..."""Sunday::Heral "China" Mult", to indianbo – say mêm la strictly copyright under the sions of the Telecommunicatie dinance, 1836, and may not be ed under any circumstances, wholly or in part, without prior rangement.

Decisions have been taken en- Printed and Published for the Proprietors. This Newsp tirely without their knowledge.terpriso, Ltd.," by WALTER James Krates, at Windsor House, Router.

Hong-Konge vë se më