Evening star., 1934-10-14
ALARM IN EUROPE
CLEARLY EVIDENT
Secret Troop Movements
Reflect Grave Concern
Over ASsaSsinations.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
been on the march in Europe, espe-
cially in Italy, Yugoslavia and Hun
gary.
In order not to excite the already
alarmed public these movements have
been conducted in secrecy, extending
also to the standby" orders given
to the navies.
The situation, following the assassi-
nation of King Alexander of Yugo-
slavia, has become tense and the
ordinary precautionary measures pro-
vided for in the war plans of the
general staff had to be put into effect.
This time, however, instead of ad-
vertiSing the massing of forces at
the borders, as was the case after DOLL
fuss assassination, the governments
have kept quiet and forbidden the
newspapers to mention anything about
them.
Europe Is Worried.
The European chancellories are wor-
ried, probably more worried than 20
years ago, when the Austrian heir to
the throne and his consort were aSsas-
Sinated by another Yugoslav at Sara
jevo. The reason for their deep con-
cern is that the general situation Is
more chaotic, governments have less
control over their people than before
the World War, and hatreds are more
intense than 20 years ago, when the
great war was made by governments
and not by the people themselves.
The anti-Italian outburst at Lubly-
ana, Zagreb and Sarajevo were, it is
said, only a foretaste of what may
come after King Alexander has been
buried.
Conflict Is Possible.
The grave danger in the whole situ-
alton lies in the fact that the princi-
pal European powers can no longer
control the Yugoslav government. A
conflict between Italy and Yugoslavia
Is dangerous possibility, despite the
determination of Great Britain, France
and Italy to avoid it.
So long as Alexander was alive,
these three major powers, especially
France. could exercise effective re-
straint on the Yugoslav government
But now, there no longer is a strong
government in Yugoslavia. The re-
gency which is going to rule in the
name of the boy-king Peter II is
composed of men who are popular
neither with the masses nor the army.
Prince Paul. the uncle Of the King,
was born in Petrograd, spent his
youth in Russia and in England, and
hos haavN i6aaffAal until,
slavia's political life. He carries small
prestige with the generals. such as
Peter Zivkovitch, intense chauvinists,
who control the army at the present
moment.
Faced with the prospects of a civil
war and the eventual secession of
Croatia and Dalmatta from the -est
of the kingdom, it is feared that these
military leaders would not hesitate to
plunge YugoSlavia into an armed con-
f1ict with Italy, rather than have in
ternal disorder. The military believe
that the unity of Yugoslavia can be
easier achieved by fighting a common
enemy outside the borders, than by
forcing showdown with the
CroatS.
French To Issue Warning.
There is no doubt that the French
Government again will speak plainly
to Belgrade and tell the lead
ers that should they decide to
start any trouble with Italy. they can
not count on Frances support, and
that France and Great Britain will
not permit the sale or transportation
of war materials to the belligerents.
The Yugoslavs have discovered dur
ing the last few months that the
French were directing their foreign
policy toward an understanding with
Italy. The consequences of this pol
icy, started by the late foreign min
lister, Louis Barthou, decided the
Yugoslavs to talk to the Germans.
Since last Summer, there have been
secret diplomatic conversations be-
tween Berlin and Belgrade, initiated
by Hitler's right-hand man, Air Min
lister Goering, who visited Belgrade
in May on his goodwill tour to Yugo-
slavia and Greece.
The French threat that it will not
supply Yugoslavia with war ma
terial-the Yugoslavs think they need
no other assistance to defeat Italy's
armies-is likely to leave the Bel
grade government cold. 1t can obtain
all it needs from Germany.
Thus, it is feared in Europe that a
conflict between Italy and Yugo-
slavia will develop eventually in the
much-feared conflict between Ger
many and the other western powers.
France is going through a serious
internal crisis; the French govern
ment has been much weakened by
the death of Barthou. France, con-
Sequently, will have to pay greater
attention during the next few
months to her internal problems than
to her foreign policies.
Will Aid Austrian Nazis.
The Nazi party in Austria has been
temporarily subdued, but continues
to be strong.
The assassination of King Alex