The Washington herald., 1912-11-19
Why Roumania Is Neutral.

TO figure it out why Roumania, though
one of the Balkan states-and a lead
ing one at that-has not joined forces
with its neighbors, the Bulgars, Serv-
ians and Montenegrins, in their pres
ent determined and well-nigh success
full efforts to drive the Turks back
upon the Bosphorus and, if possible,
altogether out of Europe
OF course, the Roumanians have no
more liking for the Mohammedan op-
pressor than any of the rest of the
Balkan peoples. but King Carols
hands are tied. And this is the cause
When in April. 1866. Prince Karl
(CaroD, OF Hohenzollern-S igmaringen
accepted the crown of Roumania, which
the Count of Flanders. brother of the
late King OF the Belgians. Leopold II,
had declined. the European cabinets at
once became satisfied that the liberties
of two scarcely known principalities-
Maldovia and Wallachia-which in
1886 had been united under one regime
as Roumania, were destined to play a
leading role in the destinies of the Bal
kan states. whose outposts they are be-
cause bordering on the EuXine.
This became apparent speedily when,
it 1877, the new dual principality deli
cately threw off the Turkish yoke by
declaring its independently, a step that
never could have been undertaken and
carried out successfully but for the
moral and de facto backing of Germany
and Russia
When in February g. 1860. the first
ruler of the combined principalities,
Prince Couza. alexander John y was
deposed after a successful palace revo-
luton and ultimately Karl of Hohen-
zollern was smuggled into the cour-
try by the premier who had an eye
to the future greatness of his country,
the young prince brought with him the
strong weight OF the influence of his
kin at Berlin. For. though of a diff
ferent faith-the Prussian Hohenzol-
Terms became Protestants at the re-
formation-the South German branch
of the family always has enjoyed the
friendship and good will of their north
ern relatives.
1t must be admitted that Prince
Karl proved himself to be the man for
the place. able to introduce and carry
out the reforms so badly needed among
his only half civilized populace, des-
pendants of the Roman-Dacians. who
remained lords of the soil after Goths.
Huns, Bulgars. and SlavS in the great
migration period of the eleventh CEN
fury had flooded the country in their
onward march toward the west OF
Europe After giving his land liberal.
representative constitution. with two
legislative chambers. he rejected the
suzcrainty OF the Sublime Porte which
had been welded since the sixteenth
century and had Roumania's indie
pcndcuce recognized at the Con-
gresS Of Berlin as well as later on in
the Russo-Turkish treaty of San Ste
fano
1t was but natural that after send
ing hi> soldiers to fight on the side
of Russia and the fine account his small
but courageous force had given of it
self, especially at Plevna, he made a
firm friend of the Gar. which relation.
ship was still more firmly cemented
when Prince Carol ceded to Russia his
exceedingly fertile. large and populous
province of Bessarabia, giving his
powerful northern ally much desired
waterfront and taking in return the
insignificant Dobrudscha, an inland sec
ton of no strategical value.
What followed was but the natural
sequel. Prince Carol proclaimed him
self a King of Roumania and the
European concert, meaning of course
Germany and Russia, was agreeable.
Under his wise and progressive rule
the land has prospered wonderfully He
10 IN Nall Sdhl IGlluCl
land nor prestige by antagonizing Rus
STA, which is determined to one day
herself hold the key to the Levant,
the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmosa,
and the DardaneIles. He is under
obligations to the Gar, and this means
that he can make no concession to nor
hasn't a chance to get slice of the
Turkish possessions, in case of victory
or division, for Servia and Bulgaria
are between Roumania and Macedonia
and Thracia; and above all he is the
cousin of the Kaiser. who has kept alb
solutely out of the ENHANCEMENT and
whose personal sentiments since his