FROM NOVEMBER 10 TO DECEMBER 10
CENTRAL EUROPE
Balkans Tied to Axis. —The second half of November was occupied by German leaders in a kind of diplomatic parade, in which, to demonstrate the progress toward a “new order” in Europe, the countries of Hungary, Rumania, and little Slovakia—which most people had already ceased to regard as an independent state— were successively tied up with the Rome- Berlin-Tokyo alliance. The object appeared to be the setting up of a European League, under German overlordship, from which Britain, and any other nations who persisted in linking their fates with hers, would be excluded. Hungary came first, in an agreement signed at Vienna on November 20 by the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Count Stephen Csaky, and the Foreign Ministers of the Reich, Italy, and Japan. The terms were simple, reading as follows:
Art. 1. —Hungary joins the pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan signed in Berlin September 27, 1940.
Art. 2. —In so far as the joint technical commission provided for in Art. IV [of the Three- Power Pact] deals with questions that touch Hungary’s interests, representatives of Hungary will participate in the Commission’s consultations.
Art. 3. —The text of the Three-Power Pact is attached to this protocol as its foundation.
Rumania followed suit on November 23 in a stiff ceremony at the Chancellory in Berlin, marked by the almost open hostility manifested by the Rumanian and Hungarian delegates. Speaking for Rumania, General Antonescu declared that the conquest of Britain was already “in hand,” and that his country’s accession to the Axis was “a further step toward final victory for our good and just cause.” On the following day, Dr. Vojtetch Tuka, Premier and Foreign Minister of Slovakia, joined his country to the group of satellite states pledged to support each other against any new belligerent entering the European or Asiatic war. It was announced in Berlin that Slovakia would be the last immediate convert to enter the Axis fold.
Bulgaria Stays Out. —That there was strong pressure upon Bulgaria to join the other Balkan nations in league with the Axis appeared evident from the sudden visit of King Boris III to Berlin in the third week of November. Her subsequent decision to continue neutral was attributed to various influences—the definite warnings that a Bulgarian attack on Greece would mean war with the Turks, the unexpected success of the Greeks in their Albanian campaign, and finally the influence of the Soviet Republic, which could scarcely be favorable toward a further extension of German control toward the Straits and the Black Sea. According to reports from Sofia in early December, Bulgaria had been given assurances of Russian support against any violation of her neutrality, and had been advised to refrain from hostilities. Whether or not Bulgaria would permit passage of German troops through her territory remained to be seen.
Pressure on Turkey. —German news agencies in Turkey declared that Ambassador Franz von Papen, returning to Angora from Berlin in late November, was bringing with him the terms upon which Turkey would be welcomed into the new European order. These would of course call for a renunciation of the Turco- British alliance, and would mean putting control of the Straits in the hands of the Axis. Russia, according to the German information, was no longer greatly interested in the Straits since she had been offered free opportunity for expansion further to the eastward toward the Persian Gulf. Whether or not these feelers were at all authentic, Turkey gave no indication of shifting from her policy of co-operation with England, while maintaining a good understanding with the Soviet Republic. On November 22 the Turkish Government declared military rule in European Turkey and in strategic areas on both sides of the Straits.
Rumania in Turmoil. —By December 4 Rumania was just beginning to emerge from an 8-day reign of terror during which the death toll from assassinations and civil strife was estimated at about 400. Anarchy broke loose in the country when on November 27 a band of the Iron Guard seized and killed 64 former officials of King Carol’s régime before the open tomb of Corneliu Codreanu, the Iron Guard leader who was put to death two years ago. Included among the victims of this act of vengeance was former Premier George Aregesanu, who was in power when Codreanu met his death, and many others politically prominent at that time. Nicolas Iorga, another former Premier, was also among the slain. The murders were condemned by General Antonescu and by Vice Premier Hori Sima, official Iron Guard leader, but there was considerable fighting between the Guards and the Army before the turmoil subsided. German troops to an estimated number of 60,000 were sent to strengthen the large German forces already in Rumania. Combined with the Iron Guard disturbance there was a renewal of agitation over the Transylvania territory lost to Hungary. Antonescu himself declared, in a speech to the Guard on December 1, that Rumania would never renounce her Transylvania claims.
In the midst of the turmoil the Rumanian Government published new decrees seizing all pipe lines and accessories belonging to private oil companies in the country and all Jewish-owned ships and barges, and details were published regarding a more far-reaching trade agreement with the Reich.
Soviet-German Relations. —Foreign Commissar Molotoff’s three-day visit to Berlin in mid-November included a series of long talks with Chancellor Hitler and other Nazi leaders. The outcome of these talks was not revealed in meager official communiques. However, when it was afterward announced in Berlin that Hungary’s adherence to the Axis was reached “with the full co-operation and authority of Russia,” this was quickly denied by the official Soviet press as “not corresponding with the facts in any degree.” Indeed the Russian policy appeared to be revealed more clearly in the stiffer attitude afterward taken by Bulgaria and Turkey in dealing with the Reich. If this was due to Soviet influence, it was far from the results hoped for by Reich diplomacy, the aim of which had been to secure Soviet support in drawing Turkey away from the British alliance, and Soviet neutrality in the event of an Axis offensive in the Near East.
Following Commissar Molotoff’s return to Moscow, it was announced that his Vice Commissar, D. K. Dekanozoff, would be the new Soviet ambassador at Berlin.
BRITAIN AT WAR
Trade Pacts with Spanish and Turks. —Aided by brighter military prospects in the Mediterranean, British diplomacy could also report some progress in that area. On December 4 London announced a new Anglo-Turkish financial accord, designed to increase trade with Turkey and provide a market for Turkish goods which formerly went to Germany. The new agreement was supplementary to that of last February, when Britain and France extended credits to Turkey amounting to £43,000,000.
With Spain also, England in December announced the signing of a financial agreement which made available for Spanish use several hundred thousand pounds of credit in London, the proceeds of Spanish exports to the British Empire which were not included in previous clearing arrangements. It was assumed that these credits would be used for purchase of foodstuffs and raw materials, and that the whole arrangement was based on some assurance from Spain that she had no present intention of entering the war on the side of Italy and the Reich. Some similar understanding also proceeded the announcement in Washington that the United States was considering a $100,000,000 credit to Spain, chiefly for purchase of foodstuffs in this country, and that British navicerts would be forthcoming to let the goods through the blockade.
Egypt and Italy. —Reports from Cairo in early December stated that in connection with Egyptian protests to Italy against the bombing of nonmilitary objectives, strong sentiment was expressed in the Chamber of Deputies in favor of Egyptian entry into the war. The feeling of the Egyptian Nationalists is that Egypt should have a share in the defense of the country, and that Egypt’s post-war position would be strengthened by such action. Incidentally, the British High Command in Egypt reiterated its view that, whatever happens in Greece or elsewhere in the Mediterranean area, Egypt remains “the key position in the Middle East.”
Lorraine Absorbed in Reich. —The incorporation of the former French province of Lorraine in the Reich was confirmed in an announcement on November 30 by Gauleiter Buerchel, German administrator of the Saarpfalz-Lorraine area, who stated that Saar and Lorraine would be combined in a new province called the West Mark. The status of Alsace has not been fully determined, but it is now administered as part of the province of Baden. Wholesale deportation of French residents of Lorraine went on through the second half of November, but was apparently checked later as a result of French protests and strong representations from the Holy See. Removal of the 800,000 French-speaking population of the province would require transfers on an unprecedented scale.
UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICA
New Mexican President. —In his inaugural address at Mexico City on December 1, General Avila Camacho, the recently elected President of Mexico, stressed significantly the need of the American nations to be “united in their efforts to defend against all aggression our continental doctrine of equality and right . . .” The presence of Vice President-elect Henry A. Wallace as United States representative at the inaugural ceremonies was indicative also of more cordial relations between Mexico and this country, and served to dispose of any hopes of the rival Mexican presidential candidate, General Almazan, that his claims might have support in Washington. General Almazan had already stated, on November 26, that he renounced all claim to the presidency. The only jarring note in the inauguration ceremonies was an anti-American demonstration staged by Almazanistas outside the United States Embassy at the time of Mr. Wallace’s arrival. It was announced that after leaving Mexico Mr. Wallace would make visits of courtesy to other countries of Central America.
Protest on Tangier. —The State Department in Washington announced in November that formal representations had been made to the Spanish Government regarding United States treaty rights in Morocco and in the International Zone of Tangier, recently taken over by Spanish forces. This was in line with previous warnings on the part of Great Britain, to the effect that fortification of Tangier by Spain could not be permitted since it might threaten control of the Straits. American treaty rights in the Morocco area are concerned primarily with guarantees of most favored nation treatment for American trade, and certain extraterritorial rights for American nationals.
Diplomatic Appointments. —At the close of November, after General Pershing had declined the post for reasons of health, President Roosevelt appointed Rear Admiral William D. Leahy, former Governor of Puerto Rico, as new American Ambassador to France, succeeding William C. Bullitt. Shortly thereafter Joseph C. Kennedy, Ambassador to Great Britain, announced that he had resigned and would not return to London. The prospect of other changes in American diplomatic representation abroad was evident from the fact that the United States envoys to Italy, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have all returned to this country. Of the ambassadors on the Continent, only Steinhardt at Moscow and Weddell at Madrid are still at their posts.
Aid for Greece. —In an exchange of messages with King George III of Greece, made public in Washington on December 7, President Roosevelt paid tribute to the courage and steadfastness of the Greek nation and gave assurances that, in accord with the American policy of extending help to peoples defending themselves against aggression, steps were being taken to give such aid to Greece. Facilities would be extended to the Greek Government for purchase of military supplies in this country, provided the British waived priority and there was no objection on the part of the United States Army or Navy.
FAR EAST
Increased Credits for China. —U. S. Congressional committees in early December gave full approval to the Administration’s proposal to extend $160,000,000 additional credits to the Chinese Nationalist Government at Chungking. Of this sum, $50,000,000 will be a new credit provided by the Export-Import Bank to China for purchase of munitions and other supplies in this country. Another $50,000,000 is to be taken from the American Stabilization Fund for purposes of stabilizing Chinese currency; and the remaining $60,000,000 will be used by the Committee on Metal Reserves for purchase of wolframite, antimony, tin, and other metals needed for national defense. The grant of these additional credits required no further action of Congress, but Secretary Hull and Secretary Morgenthau laid their plans before the committees for “advice and guidance.” Secretary Morgenthau stated that China was liquidating according to schedule the previous $100,000,000 credits granted by this country.
Wang Régime Recognized. —After nearly eight months’ delay the Japanese Government on November 30 signed treaties giving full recognition to the puppet National Government of China which Japan set going last March at Nanking. The four documents signed pledged China and Japan to joint defense measures against “destructive operations of a Communistic nature,” for which purpose Japan will maintain troops in Inner Mongolia and North China for an indeterminate period. “Positive and full facilities” are given to Japan and Japanese subjects for the development of industries and mineral resources in North China, especially those mineral resources essential to national defense. Other clauses provide for close trade co-operation and abolishment of extraterritoriality as between the two nations. China must pay war damages, but when peace is restored Japan pledges the evacuation of her troops from “anti-communistic areas” within two years’ time. The treaties were signed by President Wang and General Nobuyuki Abe, who has been the Japanese special envoy in China during the past year.
On the date of the recognition ceremonies, the Chungking Government announced that a price of $100,000 (Chinese) had been placed on the head of Wang Ching-wei as an “arch-traitor,” and described the Wang regime as “really a part of the Tokyo Government, planted on Chinese soil to be used by the Japanese militarists as an instrument for realization of their policy of domination and expansion in the Far East.” From Moscow came a statement, in reply to Japanese queries and explanations of the anti-Communist provisions in the treaty, that the Soviet Government contemplated no change in its previous policy of recognition and support for the government at Chungking.
Philippines Still Want Freedom. — President Quezon, in a speech at Manila on November 15 celebrating the 5th anniversary of the Philippine Commonwealth, declared that his government was able “even now to manage alone the affairs of our country.” At the same time he pledged continued loyalty to the United States; and the Vice-President, Sergio Osmeno, in a speech on the same date, suggested future economic, political, defense and cultural collaboration between the Philippines and the United States, “on a basis of equality.”
French Troubles in Far East. — Peace efforts on the part of French officials, according to reports of early December, had halted for the time being a fortnight of air raids and border warfare along the Mekong River frontier between Thai and French Indo-China. From the Thai capital, however, it was declared that peace could be secured only by acceptance of Thai’s demands for re-cession of territory “seized by France during past wars.” There was a very general belief that Thai’s belligerent attitude had been stirred up by foreign influences seeking to disturb the status quo in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile it was stated that the trade negotiations between French and Japanese officials, which had been going on at Hanoi, were to be transferred to Tokyo in December. In addition to commercial concessions, Japan was understood to be calling for air and naval bases in the French capital at Saigon as well as elsewhere in the Gulf of Tongking and along the South Indo-China seacoast. Saigon is only about 640 miles from Singapore. According to the Japanese press, the withdrawal of Japanese troops from various parts of China was for strategic purposes, preliminary to new operations “with objectives in the South Seas and Indian Ocean.”