Evening star., 1941-03-27
YugosIavia 10 Drop
Axis Agreement,
Diplomats Predict
Difficulties for Nuzis
In Future Moves in
BoIkuns Seen
By BLAIR BOLLES,

BGIOQgly antl-Cerman ana anti
italian, swept into power on the tide
OF popular demonstration, will re-
pudiate the Vienna agreement Of
Wednesday as soon as King Peter
II and Prime Minister Gen. Dusar
Simovich have consolidated Their
authority, diplomatic sources here
forecast today.
Reputation of the agreement
would be a diplomatic defeat OF
great magnitude for Germany ano
Italy. No nation hitherto has gone
back on treaty commitments to the
two axis leaders, and whatever
country takes the first step in that
direction may encourage many pros
pective followers.
The change in government has
dealt Germany a harsh blow upset.
ting the whole structure of her care
fully laid plans for seizing control
Of the Balkans.
Out of the dramatic reversal of
Yugoslavian official sentiment, OBJ
servers expect that loss of face will
come for Germany which may have
adverse effect for Berlin in the Nazi
dealings with other Balkan coun-
tries. The seed of revolt and resist
ance that has f1owered in Belgrade
now may be planted in neighboring
Rumania and Bulgaria, which sub
mitted more tamely to the Berlin
demands for cooperation.
Example Set by Belgrade.
Yugoslavia, it is said. has set an
example. Greece showed the way
first by going to war with Italy. and
1t is thought unlikely that Yugo-
slavia could have hopes of opposing
the axis if Greece had not taken the
stand she did. Greece, however, was
dealing with Italy. Yugoslavia has
shown that a small nation may stand
against Germany.
The accession of King Peter to
the throne six months before he
would have reached his monarchial
majority, 18 years, brings to the
control of Yugoslavia a man raised
in an anti-German and especially
anti-Italian tradition.
The youthfulness of the new ruler,
succeeding his uncle, Prince Paul,
who has been first regent, is coun-
terbalanced by the vigor of his dis
like for the powers to which his
uncle joined the country yesterday
His father was King Alexander
assassinated supposedly by Italian
agents in Marseille October 9, 1884
and his grandfather, Peter I, ruled
Serbia when Austria submitted tc
him the ultimatum that launched
the World War. He is descended
from mountain peasants who have
been always eager to oppose any
encroachment on their liberty.
Prince Paul Pro- German.
Prince Paul, on the other hand
had two traits which led him tc
make the trip to Vienna-he was
pro- and he preferred con-
ciliation to the pursuit of policy
that might result in resort to arms
for sentiment of controversy.
The young King and the firm Prime
Minister must now, if they are to
preserve the Yugoslav independence
follow policy of great delicacy
Their hopes of erasing the German
influence would be nullifled if they
took a step that would bring the
German Army into Yugoslavia be-
fore the country's seething people
once more, In response to the Kings
proclamation and appeal, quiet
themselves and make possible the
development of a united Yugoslav
military front.
1t Is generally thought that re-
pudiation of the Vienna pact would
be followed at once by a German
military attack on Yugoslavia, with
two ends in view. The first would
be to make use of Yugoslavia as a
route to Greece. The second would
be to show Yugoslavia's neighbors
that the axis will not stand for re-
pudiation of agreements.
The German negotiations with
Bulgaria and with Yugoslavia were
carried on over long period in
order to save the axis from the
predicament in which the swift
change of events in Yugoslavia
places Germany and Italy now-the
prospect of having to fight in the
Northern Balkans and thus being
delayed from the opportunity to
strike vigorously at Greece and the
British troops helping Greece in the
Southern Balkan region.
Land of High Mountains.
Yugoslavia is land of high noun
tains peopled by a fierce peasantry
A German military invasion of the
country might result in quick cap
ture of the capital, Belgrade, which
lies on the Danubian plain, an easy
prey to assault by the mechanical
armies of Berlin. But east ano
south of Belgrade lie mountains
difficult OF passage. The valley o1
the Jez Morava River leads south
ward from the Danubian plain, ano
near the town of Skoplje this valley
merges into the valley of the Vardal
River.
During the World War the Serb'
found the defense of this regior
difficult, indeed impossible, after the
central powers reached secret al.
lance with Bulgaria, on September
s, 1915. BY November II the Serbian
resistance was broken.
At great factor in that defeat wa!
the inaction of the 10000 French
and British troops stationed al
Salonika, in Greece. They stood b!
while Serbia was crushed. Again to-
day at least six British divisions arl
In the Salonika region. What tht
British military plans are with re-
gard to Yugoslavia have not beer
divulged. The political and diplo.
matte position of Yugoslavia is toe
murky at this moment-althougt
the line of development is clear-fol
the British to announce any policy