Evening star., 1939-10-01
Ciano Arrives in Berlin Toniqht
To Consult With Hitler on War;
Soviet Shadow Lies Over Balkans
Foreign Minister
Of Rumuniu to
Go to Moscow
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SCOW, Sept. 30.-Soviet
Russia's shadow over the Balkans
was thrown into sharper relief to-
night by the impending arrival of
Rumania's foreign minister.
"a Bucharest announcement
said Foreign Minister Grigore
Gafencu of Rumania and a staff
Of experts would leave for Mos
cow Monday to confer with
Soviet officials.)
Some sources said the Rumanian S
visit tended to confirm reports that
Russia had assumed dominant role
in the Balkans and had been given
a free hand there by Germany In
exchange for assurances of raw ma
terials and neutrality in the West
ern European war.
Moscow Fevered Center.
Negotiations with Rumania are
projected at q time. when Moscow
has become the center of feverish
diplomatic activity because of the
visit this week OF German Foreign
Minister Joachim Won Ribbentrop;
completed negotiations with Estonia
for mutual assistance pact and
Russian bases on Estonian soil. and
consultations with Turkish Foreign
Minister Sukru Saracoglu.
Unofficial quarters said they had
expected for some time that the
Soviet government would demand
the return Of Bessarabia. which Ru-
mania gained from Russia as a re-
suit Of the World War.
Meanwhile there was a belief in
some circles that Russia may have
gained concessions in the Black Sea
area from Turkey which controls
the Dardanelles, vital entrance to
the sea. Diplomats said they doubt
ed, however, that Turkey had yield
ed any control OF the Dardanelles to
Russia.
The Turkish mission, said by for
eign observers to be annoyed at hav-
ing been shunted aside during the
recent Russian German talks here.
consulted both the British and
French Embassies today.
Estonian Pact Ratified.
While interest -centered on the
Balkans. the presidium of the SUI
preme Soviet ratified the 10-year
mutual assistance pact and agree
ment for expanded trade with
EstoniA.
Ixvestia, government newspaper.
at the same time warned other
powers not to interfere with the
agreements OF Thursday Between
Germany and Russia because they
do not recognize any ones right
to interfere with the affairs of two
neighborly states which wish to live
in peace and friendship"
While Russia agreed in a declarA-
ton to cooperate with Germany
and other friendly powers" t. try
to compel Britain and France to
make peace, diplomatic quarters
expressed doubt the Russians had
any intention ultimately 10 join
Germany in the war If the peace
maneuver should fail.
These quarters expressed the view
that Russia was quite satisfied with
the territory she had gained in the
partitioning of Poland and was will
ing to watch the nations to the west
weaken each other in conflict.
Soviet Aid Minimi.ed.
British and French, meanwhile,
endeavored to minimize the aid Rus
sia could give Germany in the way
of raw materials. They said the
Russians have a pressing need at
home.
A German economic mission was
expected to arrive in Moscow shortly
to resume negotiations to carry out
the agreement to expand trade
Wheat and timber shipments, it was
understood. particularly were ex-
pected by Germany.
Hand in hand with Izvestia s
warning was an editorial in Pravda,
organ of the Communist party,
which said that to secure peace "if
necessary the governments of the
U. s. S. r. and Germany will draw
in other friendly powers"
The press continued to be filled
with reports of the liberation" Of
workers and peasants in the one
time Polish Ukraine.