The Washington times., 1934-03-08
HITLER, FRENCH
COVET MOTOR
/ FUEL WELLS
Balkans Still Unsettled as
Big Powers Make, Unmake
PactS; War Still Looms
CONTINUED from Page ~


drinkable, tablecloths soiled.
Rumania Is far away from
Europe.
But Europe has its eye on
Rumania. Because Europe is
war-scared, and modern armies
are motorized, and motors need
oil and Rumania has oil.
A column Of flame so yards
high and three yards thick flares
against the morning sky as the
Orient Express from Vienna to
Bucharest speeds past the mid
Rumanian oil fields.
The conductor calls the pasSen-
gers to look, and says:
Been burning for months.
There's another one been burn
ing for years"
Rumania has oil literally to
burn. So much that they don't
bother to put the fire out.
Rumania's oil could turn the
tide in war time.
All Shy on Oil
NCIOA4CG C1duCC A1OI GC1 AAdAAJ
has any significant supplies Of
oil. The two chief rivals on the
Continent are equally dependent
on oil from abroad.
But France has q fleet and in
war time can protect her i'm
ports from overseas.
Germany has next to no fleet,
and reckonS on being blockaded
IN case Of war. Germany logi-
eally has the greatest interest in
securing q safe source of oil.
To get it she will have to play
Balkan politics. But Hitler has
proved he knows how to play
every kind Of politics.
Today, since the signing of the
Polish German non-ag ession
pact nobody in Europe will ven-
tur0 to put Q limit on what the
third Reich may accomplish in
breaking up the French system Of
alliances.
For the Polish pact knocked
She first large hole in that Sys-
TEN. To understand the back
ground for the question will war
come in Europe?" and especially
70 understand the significance OF
the Balkans it is necessary to re-
can how the hostile alliances are
hned up.
Tie Up With France
The French system consists Of
straight military pacts Of mutual
defense between France and
Poland. France and CzechoSlo-
vakia, France and Rumania,
Wrance and Jugoslavia, France
and Belgium.
The succession Of states formed
out Of the wreckage Of tho AuStro-
Hungarian empire, CZechoSlo-
Vakia. JugoSlavia and Rumania,
are in turn united in the Little
Entente.
Rumania and Poland, back in
1922 when both were frightened
Of invasion by Russia, signed q
military alliance.
This Is the French system. The
italian system has been its prin-
etpal rival. The basis Of that
system has been the Italian
Hungarian, Italian Bulgarian,
ItaHan7Alhanian treaties of vary
ing degrees Of friendship. Most
important was the Italian-Hun-
garian treaty Of 1925, an
nounced as a treaty Of friendship,
but believed to be really a military
treaty.
Th0 Italian Plan
One Of its clauses was believed
70 provide that in case Of an
Ttanan-Jugoslav war. while 1tal-
ian troops drove for zagreb, Hun
gary would put two army corps
into the so-called Muir Island, the
triangle between the Muir and the
DrAu rivers in the northeast cor
ner Of Jugoslavia. next to the
Hungarian border, which would
be the most effective way to
divide the Jugoslav forces.
In the Balkans, it may be fur
eher recalled. they are realists.
Italy in return was believed to
have promised to support Hun
gary's claims for revision against
CzechoSlovakia, but also against
Et1InaniG.
It happened, however. that
italy was also trying to make
friends with Rumania. since she
could be very useful to Italy in
case Of q Jugoslav Italian war.
Old Situation Off
Early in 1888, it was reported
that italy, in pursuit of this aim,
had secretly promised Rumania
territorial integrity. Coming to
the ears Of the Hungarians, this
so angered them that. although
they maintain correct relations
with Italy. the old friendship has
cooled, and Hungary has secretly
turned her thoughts to Germany
as the knight who will break her
chains.
italy wanted to lure Rumania
out Of the Little Entente. She
failed in that and at the same
time. BY the attempt, lost Hun
gary. That left Italy with only
Bulgaria and Albania.
It Is obvious that for the time
being France has the upper hand
In the Balkans.
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