Evening star., 1941-03-16
YugosIuviu BoIks

something seems to be going
wrong with Hitler's Balkan time
table, especially regarding Yugo-
Slavia. Less than a fortnight ago
everything portended that this
isolated neutral, virtually encircled
by German and Italian armies,
would be constrained to enter the
axis camp. Berlin announced COM
placently that it was all settled,
while even London practically ad-
mitted that the best Britain could
hope for was Yugoslavia's continued
neutrality with a pro-axis slant. A
definite date reputedly was set when
the YugoSlav Premier and foreign
minister would journey either to
Vienna or Berlin, there to sign duti-
fully on the dotted line.
Suddenly the scene has changed.
Premier Cvetkovitch has become
ill-perhaps of diplomatic malady.
Anyhow, he is not going to Berlin
Immediately, and the party seems
to be indefinitely postponed. Mean
while, every press dispatch from
Belgrade, the Yugoslav capital, re-
ports marked change in the psychic
atmosphere. Popular depression and
official resignation have given place
to cheerfulnesS and assertive conf
dence. Mobilization is practically
complete, and an army of fully
100000 stands guard on the from
tiers. Equipment may be somewhat
antiquated, but the man power itself
rates among the worlds toughest
and bravest human material.
Exactly what has happened is not
yet officially known. However, it is
virtually certain that the Yugoslav
government has turned down Ger
man demands to join the axis, de-
mobilize the army and permit the
use of its railways for the passage
of German forces in operations
against Greece. Evidently Yugoslavia
refuses to bulge beyond signing a
platonic pact of friendship" coupled
with certain concessions in the eco
nomic sphere And in this stand the
government undoubtedly has the
enthusiastic support of most Yugo-
SlavS, who have been bitterly anti
axis and are ready to fight even
against long odds rather than bar
ter away their cherished independ-
ence. Only in case the outlook was
hopeless was public opinion ready
to acquiesce in the pro-axis policy.
The sudden stiffening of the gov
ernment's attitude, however, indi-
Gates that it no longer regards the
situation as hopeless. Whence does
this new hope spring? In the main,
it must be due to growing likelihood
of effective British aid. Large Brit
ish reinforcementS are undoubtedly
flowing to the Mediterranean, and
London hints broadly at a major
military stroke in the Balkans very
soon. The Greeks stand firm. The
Turks rest on their arms, ready to
repel a German attack. Through the
thick veil of military censorship may
be dimly discerned the outlines of
sensational developments.
1t Is also likely that the passage
of our lease lend bill is having a
marked effect upon the Balkan sit
uation. President Roosevelt has
pointedly remarked that it's benefits
might be extended to any nation
opposing aggression, and Yugoslavia
would certainly qualify If it stands
up to axis threats Bitter assertions
in the Italian press that America is
encouraging the Yugoslavs are sig
nif1cant signs of axis uneasiness over
the trend of our foreign policy.
Axis pressure upon Yugoslavia OBJ
viously is strong, and it has not yet
been fully applied. But the axis
must walk warily and not everyday
its hand. To drive the Yugoslavs to
desperafion might tol1cb off an ey