New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-05
The Price One Balkan
State Puts on Its
Services.
Rv FRANK II. SIMONDS,
Author of The Great War"

Rumania has been recognized alike In
petrograd, Vienna and Berlin. In Bucha-
rest there has been played diplomatic
zane resembling those fought out in Ath-
.rs and Sofia, but of far greater real inn
rortance 10 the contestants. For Rumania
could bring TO Russia and her allies not
merely we'll trained army Of above 3O0,-
900 men, with large reserves, but an open
road to the Bulgarian frontier and thus a
land approach 70 Constantinople. To the
Russian armies in Galicis Rumanian in
tervention would mean flank attack upon
the Austrians and the retreat of the Haps-
burg forces from the Trans-Carpathian
front
Had Rumania interviewed on the side Of
the anti-German Allies last spring the
Russian disaster would probably have been
prevented, Serbia would net have been
crushed, Bulgaria would not have ventured
into the war at all unless on the anti
Teutonic side; there would have been no
crisis at Athens and Greek armies would
unquestionably have shared in the Gallipoli
adventure. Rumanian Intervention could,
TOO. have been had by the Allies for a
price, a price which seemed to them too
high at the critical moment and has since
seemed ridiculously low.
German Influence.
AS to the German influences, they have
been exerted from the very start, with
great success so far as the question Of
Rumanian neutrality is concerned, but
have failed to enlist Rumania for reasons
that will be described presently. At the
very outset Of the world war King Charles
of Rumania called his ministers together
to prepare for action with Rumania's
Austro-German allies, for Rumania was
and is bound TO Vienna and Berlin by
treaty. His ministers warned him that to
attempt this meant to produce revolution.
Thus threatened, he was obliged to aban-
don his plan, and his disappointment is
said to have FASTENED his death.
In the long series of i'll turns which the
Allies have suffered in the Balkans, most
have come through the fact that German
kings or queens ruled in Balkan capitals.
To Napoleon III Is 10 be charged the fact
that a Hohenzollern dynasty is seated at
Bucharest, and in Rumania, as in Greece,
the crown has worked against the larger
dreams Of the people, for the greater good
not Of Rumanian or Hellenic aspirations,
but for the triumph Of Teutonism in the
world Thus the Balkan situation may be
summarized as a state of popular sympa-
thy with the Allies, wholly restrained by
dynastic alliance with Germany and Aus
.tria.
Rumanian Aspiration.
As the situation has developed in the
Near East, however, it has become more
and more unmistakable that the true di-
rection of Rumanian action must be
against Austria. This arises from the fact
that it il in Austrian territory that Rums-
MIA sees the promise of the future for her.
self. Like Greece, like Serbia, like Bull
garia, Rumania has dream; race amDi-
ton. Indeed, hers is the most considerable
Of all the Balkan dreams. Greater Ruma-
MIA, if realized, will be one Of the largest
Of the small states of Europe, ranking
after Spain in population and next to Italy
in area.
To understand the present, the past and
the possible future action of Rumania 1t is
necessary 10 fix in mind this great dream.
Always as the pendulum swings backward
and forward in the Near East it is essen
tial 10 recall that the Rumanian people,
like the Greek, are looking forward TO the
downfall Of great empire as the prelude
% the realization Of their own racial unity.
What Turkey IL for the Greeks, Austria Is
for the Rumanians. But always, too, it Is
necessary 20 remember that the King, the
court and the financial interests In Bucha-
rest, as in Athens, are operating against
national wishes and for the alliance whose
success means 20 the people the ruin OF all
their hopes.
In addition II is necessary 10 recall
briefly the development Of Rumansan pol
icy, the forces and facts. which have in
fuenced the course Of events in this king
dom and still materially affect its diplo-
matte and national action. In this article
purpose first 10 review very briefly the
recent events in Rumanian history ante
dating the Great War and then 20 outline
the present hopes and purposes Of the
patriots o. cOntrasted with the Teutons
In Bucharest =