Evening journal., 1915-06-25
RUNAN|A HAbTS
ON BRINK OF WAR
Public Sentiment for France,
Although Many Other
Citizens Favor Peace
CULTURED FOLK
FAVOR GERMANY

PARIS. June 25.-Writing in the
Revue de Paris. NJ. Emmanuel de
Martonne examines the position of
Roumania with regard to the present
war. Public opinion. he says. has
been extremely puzzled with regard
TO the subject of Roumania's neu-
traiity. Her immediate Intervention
which seemed a course prompted by
both interest and sympathy, has now
come to be regarded as an idle dream.
The first mistake which is made in
estimating the attitude of Roumania
is the undertaking OF her strength.
Before the treaty of Bucharest she
was the strongest of the powers form
ed in the nineteenth century by the
division of Turkey in Europe. and al
though that treaty greatly increased
the size of Serbia, Greece and Bull
garia. Roumania still maintains her
foremost position won by her meth
odical and persevering efforts. With
her 1000, 600 inhabitants, her COM
mercial prosperity and her army or
$50, 900 men, Roumania is capable or
playing a part in the present conflict.
But on which side will she naturally
place herself Public sentiment in
to be strongly sympathetic towards
France. Three important daily pa
pers are published in French, and
the language of the educated people
is French. On the other hand. since
1870, German influence has much in
creased, and German culture is con-
sidered as standing for order and
strength. The German party in Rou-
mania is strengthened by the anti
Russian sentiment of the Roumanians
who look hack to the so years of
continual wars when Moldava and
Wallachia we're pillaged times with
out number and handed back to the
Porte by Russian by virtue of every
new treaty. In 1872 Russia retained
Bessarabia. the vast majority of
whose inhabitants we're Roumanians.
At a later date Russian Intervention
made it possible for Roumania to
free herself finally from Turkey, but
it definitely deprived her Of Bessa-
rabia and created difficulties with the
new Bulgarian state by forcing Rou-
mania to take Dobroudcha as COM
pensation. The treaty of Bucharest
in giving Roumania the strategical
frontier which she has always claim
ed in southern Dobroudcha only add
ed TO the tension between the two
countries. NJ de Martonne affirms
that il is more on account of Bulgaria
than for any other reason that Rou-
mania has not taken the initiative in
the present conflict.
France and Germany,
Economically, the situation of Rou-
mania is a delicate one. She is an
agricultural country, and her pros
perity depends on her hafvests. Great
Britain and Italy are her chief clients
IN the matter Of her cereals. whilst
her petroleum is chiefly sent to
France. Great Britain and Belgium
but the countries which provide Rou-
mania with the goods she needs are
not those to whom she exports her
produce. Germanys imports into
Roumania, consisting chiefly Of iron
and machinery. have doubled during
the last 10 years. The Austrian i'm
ports. textiles and iron. are more inn
portant than tho British imports. I'M
ports from France do not amount to
one fifth of those which come from
Germany. It would seem as If Rou-
mania's interests would draw her
towards her clients. but the influence
of German finance strongly establish
ed in Bucharest must not be forgot
ten There are three German hanks
in the Roumanian capital to one Eng
lish IF French is the language of
Roumanian society. German has GER
tainly become the commercial Ian
guage.
Commerce.
AS for Roumania's commerce. it is