Evening star., 1941-03-21
D. ttt Associated Press.

D ttt Associated Press.
BELGRADE, YugoSlavia, March
31.-The Yugoslav government
yielded today to German pres
sure and prepared to follow four
of her neighbors into working
Arrangement with the axis, but
forthwith found itself confronted
by an internal crisis generated
by powerful pro-British elements.
Prince Paul the chief regent, re-
fused to accept the designations of
three ministers who in protest
against the Yugoslav capitulation
had proposed to walk out of their
Offices.
A fourth cabinet member was re-
ported to be planning to resign, and
feverish political conferences kept
the capital tense.
Premier Dragisha Cvetkovich called
an emergency meeting of key min
listers who conferred on the crisis
for several hours.
In the early afternoon the Premier,
the Croat peasant leader, Vladimir
Machek, who is vice premier, and
the Slovene leader, Culovez, has
tened to the White Palace to confer
with the regent.
The tenSeness was heightened by
disclosure that four of Yugoslavia's S
most prominent generals were pen
stoned early in the week as a mere
routine matter"
Observers pointed out that army
circles have been among the most
vigorous opponents of a surrender
to Germany. But government cir
cles said the remaining high officers
had agreed to the governments de-
cision.
Nerve usness Accentuated.
Nervousness in the capital was
accentuated by paralysis of the city's
trolley, telephone and lighting serv-
ices for short period at noon. But
engineers said the trouble was
technical.
German circles said the formaliz-
Ing OF Yugoslavia's entry into closer
relations with the Reich would be
swift, with Premier Cvetkovich and
Foreign Minister Alksander Cincar-
Markovich due to leave tonight or
tomorrow for Vienna where they
would sign the document Sunday.
Although the governments action
was reported by responsible govern
ment sources, British circles still in
sisted they had reason to believe
Yugoslavia had reached no decision
on what concessions she would make
to the axis.
While admitting that the solu-
tion might be found in time to per-
init the Premier and Foreign Min
lister to make the Vienna trip soon,
the British said this mornings cabi-
net session and the afternoon meet
ing at the palace were Sufficient
indication no agreement has yet
been reached"
Slovakia, Hungary, Rumania and
Bulgaria, among Yugoslavia's neigh
bors in Southeast Europe, previously
had joined the Rome-Berlin- Toxic
axis.
Agreement Detail Lacking.
The degree to which Yugoslavia's
decision will facilitate German ac-
ton in the Balkans, possibly against
Greece to bolster the faltering
Italians, was uncertain in the alb
sence Of details of the agreement
that has been reached. But a re-
sponsible government leader said it
would provide economic and semi
military" aid to the Reich.
The Crown Council approved the
program last night and the cabinet
later voted for it, 13 to 4, after a
bitter wrangle.
As in the recent history of so
many Of Yugoslavia's Southeastern
European neighbors, internal divi-
sions played a part.
The four cabinet members who
held out until the last and then
backed up their opposition by their
designations, were reported to have
been Serbs, the racial element which
had formed the nucleus of modern
Yugoslavia.
They were identified as DR.. Srdjan
(see BALKANS, Page A-4)