Evening star., 1941-03-28

=
nor Parliament would ratify the
axis pact.
Gen. Simovich, these sources said,
informed the German Minister that
Yugoslavia wishes to remain in
peaceful terms with Germany and
Italy, as well as with all other coun-
tries, but that fulfillment of the full
terms of the axis pact was "impos-
sible because it would be contrary to
the will OF the YugoslaV people"
Nevertheless. the Yugoslav Army
was moving into battle stations. Re
ports from Sofia said Nazi troops oc-
cupying Bulgaria were rushing
toward the Yugoslav frontier.
The cabinet action followed a day
OF violent jubilation In which the
Belgrade populace, bitterly anti-axis,
shouted for war and hailed the early
morning coup which put King Peter
and Gen. Simovich in power and
ousted the pro-axis cabinet of Pre-
mier sDragisha Cvetkovich.u
1890. ... Question Up to Hitler.
Whether Adolf Hitler and Benito
Mussolini were ready to let Yugo-
slavia return to her former status in
view of the Vienna afiiliation cere-
n1ony Tuesday remained . burning
question. 80.
At any rate the feeling here was
that the cabinet has put the whole
decision up to Hitler now. If he
decided Yugoslavia must fulfill the
terms Of the pact, sources close to
the cabinet said, the army was ready
to fight, backed by a united nation.
On the other hand, it was said,
Won Heeren was assured that Yugo.
slavia had no intention of partici-
pating in any combination with Brit
ain or Greece and that the neutral
ity policy would be as firm toward
London and Athens, and in exactly
the same measure, as toward the
axis.
Germary's urgent demand" for
clarihcation, however, was seen in
some circles as evidence that Berlin
was dissatisfied with the answer and
some neutral sources surmised the
new government might be giving
Berlin soft answer to turn away
Nazi wrath until Yugoslavia has
time to complete here military
preparations.
Crowds Are Jubilant.
The stormy Belgrade populace
seemed to take it for granted that
Gen. Simovich's new government
would repudiate wholly the ousted
Premier and his Foreign Minister.
Jubilant crowds tramped the
streets of the capital until the early
morning hours today and one
prominent citizen expressed their
attitude in the words:
IF this government doesn't resist,
We'll get another that will"
In the midst of the stroke which
resulted in the change of govern
ments, deposed Regent Prince Paul
was arrested yesterday morning at
Winkovci, near the Hungarian
frontier, and brought back to Bel
grade. Later, however, he was freed
and shortly before midnight last
night he left Belgrade with his
family for Athens.
Paul and his two fellow regents
and the entire Cvetkovich cabinet
quit early yesterday morning in the
face of a smoothly engineered coup
which had the force of the army
behind it.
Premier Appeals to People.
After a meeting of the newly
formed council of ministers, Gen.
Simovich appealed to the people to
support the government and aid In
the accomplishment of her (Yugo-
slavia's) most noble mission in the
present hour namely, the mainte-
nance of order and peace without"
II call upon the patriotism OF
Yugoslav citizens" his statement
added, ito cease demonstrations
that could muddy our relations with
our neighbors, with whom we wish
to live in peace.
st call upon all not to let them
selves be moved to ill-considered
acts and not to allow themselves
to be Influenced at any time"
Gen. Simovich said that lin these
last difficult days the Yugoslav peo-
pie have been disturbed at the man
ner of leadership in state affairs"
and declared that this distrust has
been expressed in mode threat
ening peace and order"
Under the pressure of these cir
cumstances changes have today
(Thursday) taken place." he added.
There is now no more need to
worry since King Peter II took pow
er. = ="
The public accepted the coup with
almost hysterical enthusiasm. War
fever against Germany climbed to
the explosion point. Throngs roamed
the streets for hours. setting up con-
slant, frenzied shouts for war.
German and italian travel asen.