Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-07
Balkan Spark Might
SET All Southeastern
Europe Af|ame
Russio and Germany
60 EosX Preferring
To Hold Gains
BY RICHARD MOWRER,
shiraro Daily News Fnreirn Corresn6n

BY RICHARD MOWRER,
chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent.
BUDAPEST, Nov. If anybody
joggles the Balkans, the spark is
likely to be struck which will set all
Southeastern Europe ablaze., There
are so many hates and quarrels in
the Balkans that unless handled
with care they are likely to explode.
This is one explanation of why,
thus far at least, Russian and Ger
many have abstained from sudden
dangerous moves in this direction.
Both powers would rather obtain
advantages without fighting. Ger
many already has extensive eco
nomic advantages in the Balkans
which it would not like to see de-
ranged. Russia has good chance
of obtaining Bessarabia freely If
Rumania can be certain that Bull
garia and Hungary will not pounce
on their Dobrudja and Transylva-
MIA, respectively. Moreover, further
German or Russian expansion into
Southeastern Europe is likely to
force Italy completely into the
allied camp.
In view of the uncertainty of
Germany's and Russia's intentions
and the smoldering hates of the
Balkan states, anything may hap
pen if somebody gives the signal.
Bulgaria May Seize Dobrudja.
If the Russians move suddenly into
Bessarabia, Bulgaria may seize the
chance to get back Dobrudja, which
1t lost at the end of the second Bal
kan war, and Hungary may try to
satisfy its aspirations to get back
pennsylvania, which 1t lost at the
end OF the great war These devel-
opments would likely bring Turkey
into action against Bulgaria.
A second war danger in these parts
Is the possible increase of German
political and economic pressure
and resistance thereto.
third war danger is the race
between Germany, Russia and Italv
to extend their influence in the
Balkans
For the moment Russian and
German pressure in the southeast
seems balanced. AS it stands. how
ever, Germany's influence is likely
TO decrease. In this connection it
is suspected by some observers that
Germany is urging Italy to assert
itself more in the Balkans with the
view OF offsetting a conceivable in
crease OF Russian influence.
Also, in the same connection, talk
OF the formation of neutral
Balkan bloc is interesting. 1t orig
mated in Italy. Two weeks ago
italian expressions of pleasure at
the prospect of such bloc changed
to dlsfavor because 1t was said that
the formation of such bloc would
be regarded by another power Ger
many as an unfriendly action.
Furthermore, the Turks could not
be brought into it as they had
committed themselves to the allied
side by signing French and British
alliances.
Balkan Bloc Talk Revived.
The Italian talk of a Balkan bloc
recently has been revived, how
ever-this time with favorable Ger
man press comment backing it.
Knowing where Germany stands in
the matter, the Hungarian press to-
day is playing up the news of the
project, although withholding edi-
torial comment. Hungary favors
such neutral bloc. But at the
same time it is not dropping its
claims on Rumania.
The possibility of a Rumanian-
Turkish-Yugoslav conference is
welcomed here as offering posi-
BILE peaceful solution of the Hun
garian-Bulgarian territorial claims,
which it is felt here must be set
tied, more than somewhat, before
the Balkans can get together. The
fact that King Carol has sum-
moned his Ambassadors home from
Belgrade and Ankara for consulta-
tons is taken as a sign that such
conference is likely-regardless of
Rumanian denials.
(Copyright, 1889, Chicago Daily News, Inc.)