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John Metaxas, Premier, War Minister, Air Minister and Foreign Minister—i.e.Dictator—of Greece, arrived on the same train with M. Saracoglu. This short, stout, Potsdam-educated general, veteran of Turkish and Balkan wars, onetime admirer of Hitler, was unusually silent for him. During World War I he was a member of the Greek Court's pro-German Camarilla. Result was that he became a prisoner in French Corsica. Last week he seemed as pro-Allied as neutrals come these days.
Grigore Gafencu, Rumania's Foreign Minister, War I aviator, newspaper publisher, part Scottish descent, came by special train. Handsome, friendly, helpful, M. Gafencu acted as the Council's President, was busy spiking rumors that: 1) Rumania had decided to cast her lot with Germany; 2) an anti-Russian compact was about to be signed; 3) the Balkan Entente was breaking up; 4 ) anything important would occur at the conference. No secret was made, however, that Rumania's growing troubles with the Allies v. Germany over oil (see p. 31) was the most discussed topic.
Alexander Cincar-Markovitch, Yugoslavia's Foreign Minister, was host. Bald, imperturbable, M. Cincar-Markovitch is a professional diplomat formerly stationed at Berlin and Rome. He strives for "faithful collaboration with Germany" and for "greater friendship" with Italy, at the same time keeping his wires open to Paris and London. Of all the Balkans, his is the country most nearly neutral.
First day of the conference the Ministers met for three and a half hours; called on Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisha Cvetkovitch; lunched with Prince Paul, Senior Regent, and Princess Olga at their white castle overlooking the Danube; left calling cards at the homes of Co-Regents Dr. Ivo Perovitch and Dr. Radenko Stankovitch and of Dr. Vladimir Matchek, the Croat leader. Second day they talked again, dined at the Officer's Club, made pleasant, diplomatic speeches. Third day they conferred again, went back home.
There were rumors that a regional entente of the Danubian States would be formed. It was agreed that Italy's interest in keeping Balkan peace was praiseworthy. It would be nice, hinted the conferees, if Hungary and Bulgaria would drop their claims against Rumania, Greece, Yugoslavia until a general peace could be negotiated. But all knew that the Balkans, in order to keep the peace that in this generation they have come to hold so dear, would have to go on performing acrobatic tricks of neutrality. No concrete results were expected, none resulted. But it was all very cordial and pleasant, it left everybody feeling good, and at the end it was decided to renew the Balkan Pact for another seven years.