The Wilmington morning star., 1944-03-30
Balkan Situation
Nv JOSEPH C. HARSCH

By JOSEfH u. uAhRoOh
The avalanche of German troops which
smothered the moderately promising little
peace movements in Hungary, Rumania. and
Bulgaria came as a disappointment 10 WASH
ington, but not as a surprise
All three of the Balkan States had shown
unnistakabel signs of wanting an "out' from
the war; They were encouraged, as any such
move is naturally encouraged in wartime.
Actual peace proposals had been made by
Rumanians and Bulgarians. The Hungarlans
had been more subtle They had made no
overt proposal, but their diplomatic repre-
sentatiyes in neutral countries had made ges-
lures of good will. What they were doing
was letting us know by their behavior that
they didn't really like the idea OF beng at
war with us and didn't consider their formal
hostility as anything more than most IN
fortunate legal situation.
Before the Moscow and Teheran confer
ences there was fairly serious idea of pry-
ing the three of them out OF the Axis camp.
But an Allied campaign into the Balkans,
either through Yugoslavia, following the Ital-
| ian landing, or into Greece and Bulgaria
from the Aegean, was a prerequisite.
Both of those campaigns were once def
nitely on the Allied strategy agenda. The I'M
successful British move into the Aegean is
lands following Italy's surrender represented
a British effort to pave the way for such a
campaign which had always been very close
To the heart of the British war planners, but
never regarded with favor either in Washing
ton or Moscow.
| The Moscow and Teheran conferences,
which followed very closely on the heels OF
the failure Of the Aegean effort put the final
stamp of disapproval on any Balkan venture
on the ground that the possible advantages
were outweighed by the diversion of effort
from the main invasion which they would re-
quire. corollary of this decision was the
whiting down of Turkeys arms allotment
to the point where the Turks finally called
off the whole plan for its admission to the
war.
| Once these decisions had been made the
| idea of revolt in the Balkans was relegated
to the shelf of pious but most probably I'M
realizable hopes 1t was pity and there were
MANY regrets. But in the absence of Allied
forces in the Balkans it was obvious that
Germany held the balance of power and
could call the Balkan tune at will. That the
Germans would do so at their convenience was
a foregone conclusion Allied pressure has a
chance in countries which dangle from the
edges of the German fortress-such as Spain
and Finland-but scarcely at this stage OF
the war in countries which are still deep inside
the periphery of German military power.
| Thus there are regrets at the Smothermg
of the little Balkan peace movements, but
regrets tempered by the full realization that
the fate of those countries was sealed by Al
lied decisions taken at Moscow and Teheran
What is truly disappointing is the course
of events in Finland. There were the highest
hopes that Finland would See the light and
get out of the German camp. Not only was
there the very real presence Of a victorious
-. a. fro 1x
urging of Britain and America, but also the
even more disinterested advice of Sweden
/ expressed with firmness and nsistence
/ What went wrong is puZzling Washington.
Unless the negotiations are revived at the
Hast moment it is foregone conclusion that
the United States will break off its diplomatic
relations with Finland. There is also an I'M
pleasant suspicion that the whole Finnish
peace game may have been deliberate plar
to aid the Germans. If this should ever be
proved there would also be an American
declaration Of war against Finland. 1t Woulo
be done most reluctantly. =
But official Washington has very nearly
reached the end of it's patience with the Fin
lnish Government, which is regarded here as
lbeing very close to a tragic and criminal
betrayal of the interests of the Finnish peo'
ple AS of this writing, there is still slenoer
hope of revivng the negotiations.
4 It might be added that Washington IS eX-
tremely impressed by the restraint Oh tne
, Russians in this matter. An immediate 7us
sian attack on Finland was considered per
fectly plausible following the expiration %
the Russian peace-offer time limit ih1'
ian Science Monitor.
: People do poor job of growing old unless
. thew take their time at it.
When the liquor price goes up more peeps pc
will 90 around with rye face-or Will 1neS!
-V-