Evening star., 1941-03-22
Minister Accused
Of Sobotoging
Soviet Help
BY the Associated Press.

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia, March
22.-Mass designations of impor-
tant officials and charges that a
minister sabotaged efforts to
gain the support of Russia added
,, fuel today to a rapidly flaring
political revolt against the Yugo-
slav government plan to capitu-
late to the axis.
At a cabinet meeting marked by
bitter recriminations, a member was
reported to have accused Foreign
Minister Alexander Cincar-Marko-
vich of throwing away a telegram
from the Minister to Russia detail
ing his efforts for a mutual assist
ance pact with that nation.
Cincar-Markovich leaped to his
feet, screaming, "Fantastic!'
He insisted that Russia has not
sufficient military strength to give
us the aid we would like to have"
However, the angry resignation of
the Minister to Russia, Milan Cav
rilovich, was reported.
Russia Gives Turkey Free Hand.
Unconfirmed diplomatic reports
from Istanbul said Turkey had re-
celved a declaration from Moscow
that if the Turks find it necessary
to defend themselves against any
aggression or to help Yugoslavia.
Russia would not consider it an
''imperialistic war;
If this report is true, it was con-
sidered by observers that Russia had
given Turkey free hand" in oppos-
ing Germany.
Other diplomatic developments in
cluded an urgent conference between
the Greek minister and Cincar-
Markovich.
Two Independent Democrat SEN
ators were said to have resigned
already in protest against the pro-
posed axis deal
Today the governor of the vitality
important Vardar Valley district
and the vice governor of Croatia re-
signed and the Independent Demo-
cratic party ordered all its members
holding government positions to do
likewise. The party is the coun-
try's fourth most important.
The mass resignation was ordered
as an immediate protest.
Following the resignation yester-
day of three Serb members of the
cabinet, six opposition Senator'S
members of the Serbian Peasant and
Independent Democratic parties
also were reported planning to quit
their Offices and two Independent
Democrats were declared to have
already stepped out.
Serbs Call Meeting.
Sources close to the Senators said
one of them had left for Greece or
Egypt to organize cooperation with
Britain.
Leaders Of the Serbian Peasant
party, which includes most of Yugo-
slavia's Serb farmers, announced
they had called a meeting, prob
ably for tomorrow, at which all its
members also would be ordered to
quit their state jobs.
AS this opposition spread through
Yugoslavia, German Minister Viktor
Won Heeren conferred at length with
Premier Dragisha Cvetkovich and
Foreign Minister Cincar -Markovich.
Their plans to 60 to Vienna to-
morrow to sign an agreement with
Germany already had been post
poned indefinitely.
Germany Angry, Impatient.
Informed sources said Won Heeren
told Cvetkovich and Cincar- -Marko-
vich that the German government
was extremely angry and impatient"
at Yugoslavia's failure to sign the
agreement quickly, and furthermore
that the Reich's government "sus-
poets" Yugoslavia is attempting to
hedge and stall for time until the
British armies can be we'll installed
in Greece close to the Yugoslav from
tier
Friends of zivojin Balugdzich,
former Minister to Berlin, quoted
him as saying, only two courses are
now open to our country. Either we
go to war against German and Ital-
ian demands, or we face almost GER
tain civil war"
Premier Cvetkovich's search for
substitute ministers to replace the
(See YUGOSLAVIA, Page A-6D