Evening star., 1941-03-28
Nozis Are impatient
For Statement on
Reputation
By the Associated Press.

BERLIN, March 28.-Germany
waited impatiently today for a
definite answer from King Pc
ter's new military government in
Yugoslavia as to whether it is
repudiating its membership in
the three-power pact.
Berlin apparently was pressing
urgently for a clean-cut decision on
foreign policy. but German diplo-
matte reports from Belgrade did not
bring a clear picture, it was said.
1t was understood the new Yug0-
slsv Premier, Gen. Dusan Simovich,
sought to let the axis pact hang in
the air-unratifled by Parliament
but at the same time not specifi-
cally repudiated.
There was no authorized comment
on what would happen if Yugoslavia
decided to let the pact thus dangle
uncertainty.
dispatches from Belgrade this
morning said the Simovich cabi-
net had decided to return to a
policy of strict neutrality and had
informed Germany the kingdom
would find it impossible to adhere
to the terms of the axis pact)
Won Heeren Sees Simovich.
Viktor Won Heeren, German Min
lister in Belgrade, was said to have
had at least one conversation with
Simovich since the latter took over
the Yugoslav premiership, but the
topic of the conversation was not
reported here.
However, the general impression
was that Simovich's statement of
general policy was unsatisfactory.
Germany protested to the new
Yugoslav government concerning
yesterdays events in Belgrade in
which German citizens were said to
have been attacked, but authorized
sources said beyond that they were
unable to make any statement on
the status of Yugoslav-axis rela-
tionS.
Dissatisfaction with Yugoslavias s
attitude was further registered by
the fact that the German radio ac-
quainted the German public with
anti-German demonstrations and
actions in Yugoslavia.
1t was to be presumed that the
Reich's radio and later, DNB, the
official German news agency, were
authorized to publicize these facts
only because the German govern
ment was not then satisfied with the
new Premier's declaration.
No Official Reaction.
Authorized sources said that at
present-it was then lis pm. in
Berlin-there was no possibility of
full evaluation of the Yugoslav
situation and hence no official re-
action.
Communications were poor, it was
said, reports often were contradic-
tory, and it could not be estimated
at present to what extent British
Prime Minister Churchill's utter
ances (of common cause" with the
new Belgrade regime) were propa-
ganda or rested on political reality
The former Yugoslav govern
ment's adherence to the axis mill
tary pact three days ago, official
sources reiterated, is legal fact
and became such with the signing
ceremony at Vienna.
These sources pointed out that
while Premier Simovich'S radio
declaration failed to mention the
pact, on the other hand there was
nothing to indicate it had been re-
nounced.
1T is not customary for one gov
ernnent," they commented, ito re-
scind the actions of a previous one,
at least not as regards international
treaties"
Declare Yugoslavia Must Stick.
Unofficial German political circles
held the opinion that Yugoslavia
knows perfectly well that for her now
to renounce the axis pact would be
tantamount to giving the go sign"
to Germany to march in to compel
her to live up to it.
1t was understood by these circles
that the German government, which
last night demanded an explanation
of Yugoslavia, left no doubt that the
new government must come through
with an unequivocal statement of
its position on the pact.
Mere phrases like bringing Yugo-
slav neutrality into line with the
pact" were considered insufficient.
That the new Yugoslav govern
(See BERLIN, Page A-5D
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