Evening star., 1941-03-08
YugosIovio
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with annoyance today to a report
that President Roosevelt had sug-
gested some manner of aid to Yugo-
slavia to keep that nation out of the
Gxis.
(State Department officials at
Washington said they never
heard of It,"
Un Belgrade, Yugoslav official
circles declined to issue denial
of the Hungarian press reports.
They said no denial was necessary
because the whole business is so
ridiculous."D
German newspapers hammered on
the theme. Pressed for additional
substantiation of the Budapest re-
Dort, an authorized spokesman COM
mented:
I'VE have the impression it is
authentic"
Evidence of Fight on Pact.
The alleged diplomatic feeler di-
reCted at YugoSlavia was described
here as evidence Of how hard the
democracies we're fighting to prevent
the spread of influence of the three
power pact.
The Germans, however, refused to
say word about what progress the
pact might be making and, in con-
neCtlon with the many rumors and
reports of the movements of Yugo-
slav statesmen, the spokesman COM
mented: I'VE don't care to add to
the confusion of crazy reports"
In a lead article today the Essen
National Zeitung asked if America
would appreciate it if Germany sent
special ENJOYS all over Central
America as Roosevelt does over Eu-
rope" The zeitung said these trav-
elers we're proof of a continued at
tempt on the part of Washington to
influence Germany's neighbors."
The authoritative German COM
mentary, Dienst aus Deutschland,
predicted that Mr.. Roosevelt's for
eign policy would be examined uy
the German press as a whole during
the day. The commentary, which
often reflects German Foreign Office
opinion, added that this would be
"the first time the German press has
directly taken up discussion of
Rooseveltian politics and his atti-
tude toward the European situa-
ton"
DNB Distributes Report.
The comment grew out of the
Yugoslav story, printed in the Buda-
pest newspaper Magyarsag and dis
tributed from there by the German
radio and DNB, German official news
agency.
Declaring that despite the Amer
lean efforts felt here, with all cer-
tainty the consolidation of the new
order will continue in Europe"
Dienst aus Deutschland said the al
legged Roosevelt demarche" to Yu-
goslavia "is directly opposed to the
principles of the Monroe Doctrine
as well as Roosevelt's own promise
to the voters to keep America away
from war"
The newspaper Magyarsag, from
which the German press quoted,
carried a story under a Washington
dateline with headline saying "Yu-
goslavia refuses help from Roose-
velt" The story was credited to
special service" and was the first
special dispatch" from Washington
the newspaper ever has carried.
President Roosevelt, the paper
said. promised assistance to Yugo-
slavia the same day" her Premier
and Foreign Minister conferred
with Adolf Hitler at Berchtesgaden.
m. Constantly Fotitch, the Yu-
goslav Minister to Washington, was
summoned February IA by urgent
telephone call to go to the home of
Sumner Welles Omitted States Un-
dersecretary of State) where he was
given a personal message from Mr..
Roosevelt" the Magyarsag story
said.
Mr.. Fotitch was informed
that it was time to tell the Prince
Regent and the Yugoslav govern
ment that in President Roosevelt's
opinion it was time to put an end
to the successes of the axis powers,
even If they were only diplomatic
successes.
Mr.. Roosevelt also was said to
have made known that the lease
lend bill would certainly be accepted
by Congress and the American Gov
ernment then would have the means
to curb efforts designed to create q
new order"
"InteryentiOnist" Gesture.
Gayda declared Mr.. Roosevelt had
attempted "a new interventionist
gesture" in having Undersecretary
Of State Sumner Welles Invite" the
Yugoslav Minister "in a more or less
intinidating way to transmit to his
government American views on the
necessity of Yugoslavia leaving its
passiveness ard taking sides with
Anglo-Saxon Imperialism, assuring
that the United States would be
ready with all kinds of guarantees
and aid"
Meanwhile, Stefani, official Ital-
ian news agency, reported that Of
fetal circles at Belgrade "do not
wish to deny an offer of such a
guarantee, but neither do they want