The Washington times., 1915-06-29
Deputy BasiIesco Says Russia
Must Consent to Restore
All Bessarabia.
BIG DEMAND MADE ON SERBS
Belgrade Government, 1t Is De-
elared, Must Yield Claims
Across the Danube.

I NEW YORK, June 29.-At a time when
the decision of Roumania as to her role
In the war is anxiously awaited In all
the European chancelleries, these views
Of Prof. N. Basilesco. a member Of the
faculty of law in the University or
Bucharest, and deputy in the Rou-
manian parliament expressed in letter
to the Journal de Geneve. gain special
significance.
"In order to give an account OF the
part of Roumania in the frightful war
which Is drenching the continent in
blood" says Prof. Basilesco. 'it is
necessary to consider Roumania in the
light Of two hypothesis, equally possi-
BILE: in alliance with the Germanic pow
ers or with those of the entente.
As Ally of Germans.
'~The first course Of action was die
tated to her by a political program Of
more than thirty years duration 1t
was advocated by the late King Charles.
and 1t is suggested today by NM. Carp.
Ma1oresco, and Rosetti, former presi-
dents of the council and Is supported
by an important fraction of the press
and public opinion.
eff Roumania had yielded to these
solicitations the aspect Of things would
long since have been changed. She
could have thrown into the balance
from the beginning Of the war, mil
lion bayonets she could have placed
~ lf H.
her admirable system of fortresses
which bar the passage of the Russians
across her plains; she could have mem
aced the left wing Of the Russian army
and preevnted the invasion Of Bukowina
and Hungary and at the same time rem
dered precarious the Russian advance
across Galicia.
But the gravest danger to the allies
would have resulted from the fact that.
II Roumania had allied herself with
Austria Bulgaria would have
had to do the same thing: for every
body knows that Bulgaria revolves In
the same orbit as Austria Hungary ana
Germany; that she has received money
from them while the war has been
IN progress. and that she would also
have received arms and ammunition II
Houmania would have let them pass
through her territory.
Advantages to Germany.
Through Roumania and Bulgaria the
central powers would have been apre
to form a junction with Turkey: they
would have been able to send her arms
and ammunition in abundance: they
would have been able to fortify the
Dardanalles and render them impreg-
nable and to prevent definitely the
reinforcing of Russia with arms and
ammunition. of which she has imperi-
Gus need today. From the North Sea
to the Persian Gulf Germany and Aus
trta Hungary would have been indis-
putably In control of a vast. field of
pattle. They would have been able to
draw from RoYmania, Bulgaria, and,
above all. from Asia Minor, an mex
haustible reservoir, the provisions which
they lack so sorely now. Serbia. taken
between two fires. would long since
have been wiped off the map, and Italy,
who was within an ace of an under
standing with the Germanic powers,
would have preferred a sure offer from
austria to the risks of a wsr Of ap-
parently unequal chances.
All these advantages the Austrians
ana Germans have been unable to attain
them. - o''
"By the addition Of the forces Of Rou-
maina to those Of the entente the circle
OF fire and death would have completely
closed around the central powers They
would have had to cover new frontier
1[ Saod more nod than 500 miles and to oppose
iWo,ooo Roumanians who would have
nurled themselves through the Carpa-
thlan passes with not less than the
same number of Austro- Germans.
Where would they have found them?
Attacked on the north by the Rus
slams. at the center by the Roumanians
and in the south by the reconstituted
serbian army. they certainly could not
MAKE MAKE & an eTectiye resistance. The ad-
vance upon Budapest and Nienro v'o".d
be triumphal march The f,ightful
war which is desola ing the world would
be ended with one blow.
Why Roumania Hesitates.
why. then. has Roumania not un.
sheathed her sword? Because, in spite
or the great service which she has al.
resdy rendered to the entente, in spite
or the important and decisive role
WHICH she may yet Play, and the i'm.
mense services which she can still rem.
der. she alone OF the European powers
Is seen discussing not simple preten,
tions. but legitimate and historic rights
Roumania demands only restitution
in integrum. She Is not ambitious fol
undue conquests. She rises simply tc
deliver her brothers who have always
since the time of Trajan, been unite
to her by the clcsest ties. Twice be.
fore. under Stephen the Great anG
have been united under one scepter
The vicissitudes of time, the overwhelm
Ing OF he East, by the Turks, masters o
Bu'earia. serbia, and II ngary. have
not PAINTED them snce that time tC
consolidate their union as a nation
The treachery and viole ce of theil
neiGhbOrs, on the contrary. brought
them new misfortunes. In i777 TURKEY
ceded Bukownl-in which to this daS
remains the grave of the Moldavian n
prince. Stephen th0 Great-to AustrIo
and in 1872 she ceded to Russia Bess
arabia, the Moldavian country par ex
cellence. which was TO- centuries the
ramrart of MoldaVia against the in,
NSsions of the Turks and Tartars, ant
whose plains We're time and time agair
"ToGay' when The "a nrinC nTr en- iGhdiuren;
tionality appears about to triumph
when in Its name Russia promises Ia
the Poles the reconstruction of theiI
ancient kingdom; when Italy is on tn,
eve OF realizing the vision Of Dante, tn,
unity OF her people; when Serbia dream,
~