Show J. 1 W. W T. T MASON SAYS SAYS- YS I 9 lift KP t e Appears a in New Balkan Trouble D By J. J W W. T. T MASON United d Pre Press War Var Expert t tRussia's Russia's absence Is is' the most significant factor of Wednesday nights night's meeting at Vienna of German Italian and Balkan statesmen called to try to prevent prevent prevent pre pre- vent war breaking out in southeastern southeastern south south- eastern Europe Stalin has al allowed allowed al- al lowed It to become known several several several sev sev- eral times this summer that he considers Russia has major interests In Interests In in- to protect in the Bal Bal- kans He does not regard with complacence Hitler's and Mussolini's Musso Musso- lini's linis assumption that they are responsible for regimenting the Balkan countries The more Germany and Italy show effective e power In forcing Rumania and Hungary to come cometo cometo cometo to terms the less will be Sta- Sta dins din's satisfaction with the out out- come There seems to be growing growing growing grow grow- ing evidence that Russia and Germany are moving apart aS a their interests clash in the southeastern southeastern south south- southeastern eastern area There Is the uncertain uncertaIn uncertain un un- certain element in the situation I which mu must t give concern to Germany and Italy Several days das ago Germany suddenly annexed the neutral area of Poland which was to remain an independent buffer state stale between territory taken by Russia and ana the area of previous German seizure The reason was obscure at the time Now however it seems apparent this was a move counter-move to Russian border attacks against Rumania which had been concealed concealed concealed con con- by censorship until yesterday yesterday yes yes- Moscow's Trade Commissar informed British Ambassador Ambassador Ambassador Am Am- Cripps that discussions discussions discussions discus of reaching far-reaching proposals might result if Britain would abandon her hostile attitude altitude toward Russia Berlin and Rome must re regard regard regard re- re gard with suspicion any move by Russia to establish friendships friendships friend friend- friendships ships with the camp of the totalitarians totalitarians' totalitarians totalitarians' to- to enemy nemy To hasten hastena a Baltic settlement therefore has become a matter of urgent Importance for Hitler and Mussolini Mus- Mus Simultaneously with the new uncertainty about Russia Italian Italian Italian Ital Ital- ian agitation against Greece has been halted The Italians arenow are arenow arenow now enraging themselves against Egypt while keeping their Balkan Balkan Balkan Bal Bal- kan ambitions in the back back- ground Behind these obscurities and uncertainties is the basic fact that German air attacks against Great Britain are not succeeding succeed succeed- ing Ten days ago Russian news news- papers said Hitler littler was getting nowhere In his as as- as This judgment has become become become be be- come more firmly fixed since then leading to covert sneers by international communist propagandists at nazi ambitions Russia Is preparing for the possibility possibility possibility pos pos- of ol an eventual German defeat Hitler and Mussolini cannot afford to allow any such conception to spread just now They must keep a n controlling grip on the continent or see their authority begin to pate |