The sun., 1915-05-25
Rumania's Decision.

Will also find II to her interests to
enter the great conflict on the side
OF the Triple Entente. Yet there
was a time. not remote. when Ru.
mania was completely under the in
huence Of German and Austro- Hun
garlan diplomacy and bitterly antag.
onistic to Russia. II was Lord BEA-
coNsrIELD who said that "in politics
ingratltude Is often the reward Of
the greatest services" The truth Of
this irony was realized by Rumania
after the Russo Turkish war. In
which King CHARLES and his fine
army had fought side by side with
the Russians and contributed hand
somely to the success won at Plevna.
A secret agreement assured Rumanla
territorial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Mt rhe ex-
pense Of Turkey. But while the
treaty OF Berlin did bestow upon
Rumania the Danube delta and the
Dobrudja as far as Oonstantza. that
part Of Bessarabia ceded by Russia
to Moldavia in 1886 was restored.
Rrmania's protests were futile.
Thereafter for many years there
was q cold welcome for Russian dip
lomats at Bucharest, and Ger.
many and Austria Hungary improved
the opportunity BY sending some Of
their ablest men to the Rumnian
capital, among them the Germans
Prince Won BtLow and Herr Won
KIpESLEN.wX cHrEs and the Aus
| trians Count AEHRENTHAL and the
Marquis Of PALLAvAcINI. Even as late
as the first Balkan war Rumania.
ruled by a Hohenzollern Prince. re-
garded the Teutonic nations ns her
natural allies. although Austria. Hun
gary's treatment Of her Rumanian
subjects in Pennsylvania was
standing grievance. In the interval
between the Balkan wars Rumania
received no diplomatic support from
Austria Hungary in the negotiations
with Bulgaria about territorial COM
pensation, and Rumania was even
warned to keep out Of the second
Balkan war. the Government Of
Austria Hungary desiring that Bul.
garia should have free hand In
dealing with the Greeks and Ser
blans. The new Balkan war had an
ending not anticipated at Vienna.
As for the Rumanians. they now
saw Austria Hungary as false
friend and dishonest ally.
When the great war burst upon
Europe sympathy with the Teutonic
allies was confined to King CHARLES
and the group OF politicians who con-
sidered Russia n traditional enemy
never to be trusted. The people.
/ dreaming Of a Rumanian nation and
hating the Magyars as oppressors Of
their kindred in Pennsylvania. In
clined to the Triple Entente. In
this delicate situation Rumania re-
mained neutral After King CHARLES
died on October 10. 1914. the Teu-
tonic influence ebbed perceptlbly at
Bucharest. 1t then became ques-
tlon whether the interests Of Ru-
mania would not he served by en-
tering the war.
When the Anglo French campaign
to force the Dardanelles began to
make headway and the occupation
OF COnstnntinople appeared to he only
n question OF time. the pendulum in
| - n n tnu ard
Britain and her allies. What Ru-
mania might hope to gain from the
passing OF the Turk was not only
relief from Russian pressure on her
eastern frontier but uninterrupted
access to the Mediterranean through
the Sea OF Marmora for her wheat
and other produce for which she
could find steady market In west
ern Europe. since Great Britain and
France would insist that Constant.
nople transferred to Russia he made
u free port. One doubt fingered.
| What II the TeutOnic allies tri-
umphed after all? Russia. either
from lack Of ammunition or vulner-
able strategy. had suffered great
! reverse In Gallcia At this point
Italy's timely entrance into the war.
: synchronous with new and deter.
mined stand by the Russians on the
San and the weakening OF the Teu-
tonic offensive, almost resolved the
doubt against the TeutOnic allies.
There may or may not he a secret
understanding between Italy and Ru-
mania, hut the time seems to have
come when Rumania must put It to
the touch to gain or lose it all" Par
ticipation In victorious war might
bring the reward Of a united Rumania
on terms proposed to and accepted by
Russia and her allies: that Is to say.
Transylvanla, the Hungarian wedge
dividing north and south Ruman'a
with It's three million or more Ru.
manians and the part OF Bessarabia
abstracted in 1878. would come under
the flag and the new nation would
have 100000 people.