Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-11
Balkan Crisis

Balkan Crisis
Current aggreSSiOnS by Germany
and Italy in the Balkans have slim
ulated many gueSSeS as to their mill
tary and diplomatic significance. AS
yet, however, there is so little to go
on from these angles that such
guesses would seem to be rather I'M
profitable speculation. Indeed, the
Axis powers have a trick of yelling
an intended stroke by dangling sew
eral alluring strategic possibilities
before our eyes,
When we turn to the economic
field, however, we are on Surer
ground. There can be scant doubt
that Hitler and MuSsolini, confronted
by the prospect of another war
winter in the strangling grip of
Britain's sea blockade, have resolved
to extend and perfect their economic
mastery over all the Balkan lands.
For the dictators, this has become
IleCeSSlJy.
Collectively, these Balkan coun-
tries are of great economic impor-
lance. Rumania is undoubtedly the
richest, with her wealth of grains
and oil, but Bulgaria, Greece and
Yugoslavia likewise possess notable
resources of many kinds. Even be-
fore the war, Germany did every
thing possible to cultivate trade with
the Balkan countries and had made
substantial progress in drawing them
within her commercial orbit. During
the past war year, imports from the
Balkans have played an important
part in enabling Germany to weather
the British blockade.
Until recently, however, Balkan
economic subservience to Germany
was only partial, because those
countries had an alternative. A
great Anglo-French army was being
built up in the Near East. Britain
had given guarantee treaties to
Greece and Rumania. Turkey was
ready to join in protecting them
against German aggression, while
Italy was still neutral. Under these
circumstances, Germany had to walk
warily in the Balkans. The Reich
might bargain hardly and even
bluster loudly but it did not dare
to throw its sword into the economic
scales.
When France collapsed and Italy
Joined with Germany, the Balkan
nations lost all bargaining power.
Henceforth they we're faced with
the grim necessity of making almost
any economic sacrifice if only they
could thereby ransom a semblance
Of political independence And con-
versely. the extension of the war
made them economically still more
important to the Axis powers. 1t
became vital that their resources be
entirely at the Axis disposal.
What we now see going on in
Rumania evidently is the first step
in this program of commercial alb
sorption. All the Balkan countries
are economically backward. Eff
GENTLY run, their manifold resources
could be exploited much more sue
cessfully. Since Rumania is today
an avoWed German protectorate, she
will be rapidly put on a thorough
going efficiency basis. Since Bull
garia has seemingly thrown in her
lot with the Axis, she will presumably
follow suit. YugoSlavia is econom-
ically in about the same position as
Sweden. Even if her political indie
pendence is respected, she is vir-
tually isolated and can do business
only with Germany and Italy. Greece
is trembling in her shoes lest she be
made the battle-ground between
Britain and the Axis. To avert inva-
sion, Greece would presumably make
almost any economic sacrifice.
Of course, it may be that Germany
and Italy have resolved to use the
Balkans as springboard to launch
a great invasion of the Near East.
In that case, no economic conces-
sions can save Greece from her
impending doom. But, for the other
Balkan nations, the economic aspect
will remain highly important and
will continue to afford clue to Axis
policy throughout this region.