Evening star., 1941-03-18
BY DEWITT MACKENZIE.

Dy \
That's a striking show of resist
ance the Yugoslavs have been max
ing to Hitler's demand that they
join the axis against their friends.
If you exclude the crucial battle
of Britain, the most important en-
gagement of the European war at
the moment is this battle of Yugo-
slavia, in which not shot has been
fired.
Certainly it furnishes one of the
most fascinating psychological
studies of the whole conflict. You
can read almost the mental pro-
cesses of this great but peaceful
Balkan state as she struggles with
the momentous question of which
road to take.
The alternative to joining the
axis might be war to the death. The
problem Is whether to fight or not
to fight.
Actually what Yugoslavia has to
determine first Is whether she can
trust the axis promises of a future
filled with milk and honey, or
whether there is menace in the
Hitlerian drive down the Balkan
peninsula. Apparently the Yugo-
slavs as whole already have de-
cided that there is threat.
Must Proceed Cautiously.
How great is it? Is 1t directed
against sovereignty and cherished
institutions that are worth fighting
for-worth dying for? Has Yugo-
slavia obligations to her neighbors
is she her brothers keeper?
If Yugoslavia decides that she
has a cause worth fighting for, she
will fight. The Yugoslavs are brave
folk. BY way of precaution they
are rushing more men to arms
which likely means that they are
crowding the million mark. There
can be small doubt, too, that they
have been in consultation with the
Greeks, Turks and British.
1t is natural that Yugoslavia
should proceed cautiously, especially
since she is all but surrounded by
axis powers. She realizes that upon
her decision may hang not only her
own fate, but that of the whole posi-
ton in the vital Eastern Mediter-
ranean. Should she decide to join
the Anglo-Allies the Balkans would
flame into that second great wal
which Britain desires, but which
Hitler has been trying to avoid.
No Love for Germany.
Whatever Yugoslavia's decision
may be. it won't be based on love fol-
the Reich. The Yugoslavs as a
whole don't like Germany. Their
memories are long and burn fiercely
and they haven't forgotten the suf-
ferings they endured in their fight
against the Central Powers in the
World War. They haven't forgot
ten, either, that they owe theil
present great kingdom ot the Allies
Always they have resented the
/ politico-economic overlordship OF
Germany.
But there is another great reason
! for Yugoslav dislike of Nazidom. In
my nOIcS OH 1uSOSldVld 1lnQ tn1S
written in Belgrade on October 81
1898:
While the Belgrade government
is friendly with Berlin, the genera.
public is hostile to the fatherlanc
because of its treatment of Czecho.
Slovakia. That hostility is some.
thing for Germany to jot down fol
future consideration"
I should explain that the Bel.
grade government was friendly
with Berlin" because Prince Regent
Paul (who is pro-British) had laid
down a firm policy Of maintaining
friendly relations with all countries
Yugoslavia was bitter, however
over the crushing of her close ally.
Allies Assusances May Sway Her
BY the way, while this Czecho
slovak crisis was blowing up, tn
Nazis staged stunt which caused
no end of resentment in Belgrade
This was at the International Aero
nautical Exposition which was held
there The Germans sent 80 mill.
tary planes and 160 men in uniform