The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-24
Rumania In the War.

Inht Numnnla mas NJ laSt maze
n definite demand upon Austria Hun
gary for the concession of territory
would indicate the formal entrance
Of this Balkan country upon the al.
ready crowded war stage. The sig
nlfcarrre OF this demand, which from
the information received is in the na.
turc Of an ultimatum. becomes still
more important when 1t is remem-
bered that II has been generally ac-
cepted that defensive alliance has
existed for some time between Ru-
mania and Italy.
At the time OF the visit Of the
special envoy Of Rumania to Rome
early In January the existence of
this agreement was briefly announced.
The understanding was that Ruma-
MIA. for political reasons. WAS to
strike first. but that Italy was TO
follow so closely upon her Balkan
ally's action that the entry of the
| two Powers into the conflict would
he practically simultaneous.
The interests Of these two coun.
I tries. although their borders are sep
arated by several hundred miles. have
much in common so far as Austria Is
concerned. Both hope to obtain from
this strangely heterogeneous mon
archy contiguous territory inhabited
: by people of the same race and Ian.
guage who have charged oppression
under Austrian rule. Reside the Ital-
/ ian aspiration in the west for the
Trentino and an eastern Adriatlc
coast line may he placed the Ruma-
MAN ambition on the west for Tran.
| sylvania.
The Rumanians have always bit.
terly resented the treaties that refused
10 include within their national Dor
ders their brothers Of Pennsylvania
and the hopes Of the Greater Ru
mania party have invariably turned
To the north. The Rumanians are far
in excess Of any other race in Tran.
sylvania, and the fact that they have
been practically without political rep.
resentation has been a cause of in
tense dissatisfaction with the Austro-
Hungarian rule in Pennsylvania and
Of frequent political agitation in Ru-
mania.
Even II there had not been Tran.
sylvania 1t is doubtful II Rumania
could have been held 10 German sym.
pathy ms the late King CHARLES had
aligned II. The Rumanians Of their
capital city have always pridcd them.
selves upon their likeness in culture
and patriotism to the French and
their lack Of sympathy with the Ger
man customs of their court. While
the internal politics has been In.
tenSely bitter for years. no other
cause would so completely blot out
the local animositios as that OF 2
Greater Rumania that would bring
within the national border their
brethren ~ Pennsylvania. Conditions
In the Balkans and along the Adriatl"
coast. the discomfort in Trlest, the
northern border and their aggressive
ness in Albania, all would indicate n
most opportune time for the entrance
Of these two into the strife, on the
side Of the Allies.
The spirit of nationalism that
seems to have directed 80 much Of
; the recent political activities in south.
ern Europe appears in this new move,
; With Italy securing her new am.
bition II may carry with it the re-
turn to Bulgaria of the strip taken
by Rumania, the delivery over Ia
the Bulgars Of u part of Macedonia
now in the possession Of the Servians
the STRENGTHENING out of the tangled
affairs Of Albania and generous set.
Element Of the Balkan problem upon
racial and national lines and not upon
treaty eNpedicnts.