Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-28
MARCH|LOMAN DISCUSSES
ATTITUDE OF R0UMAN|A.
In Spring, He Says, When Sap Rises
and Buds Swell. Nation May Again
Get War Fever.
USE COMMON SENSE UNTIL THEN
Leader OF Conservative Party and
Former Minister of Finance Gives
His Views, Which Arc Those OF
Man Regarded as GermanOphile.

BUCHAREST. February i5-In sum
ming up the attitude OF Roumania as
to entering the lists OF warning nations.
Alexander Marghiloman one of the
most prominent statesmen in Rou-
mania, expressed himself with this
homcly remark to correspondent OF
the Associated Press:
I'm the spring, when the sap rises
and the buds swell and mankind gen
orally feels a little better than IL good
FOR ii, Roumania may again get the
war fever. but until then we are likely
to use little common sense in this
country"
Mr.. Marghiloman is leader OF the
Conservative party and former Minister
OF Finance. Ills views are those or a
man charged in some quarters with
being a Germauophiie In fact, at the
outbreak of the present contlagration
In Europe. his villa was stoned one
night by the same Bucharest mob
which short time before had attacked
the German legation. He stood so firm
ly opposed to the idea of Roumania
rushing into war with Germany and
Austria Hungary. that his influence
alone. 1t was said. persuaded the Lib
erai ministry against war, for which
the military cast and urban popula-
ton was then strong.
Denying that he was Gcrmanophile,
but that his position was only that OF
man with RoluHania's interests at
heart. Mr.. MarShiloman discussed the
political situation in which Roumania
now found itself.
THE temper of the people has been
rather bellicose." he said, but IL Is now
realized that there is no good in going
to war without u fair prospect OF gain
ing either glory or profit. There Is no
glory In going to war with Germany.
because Roumania has for thirty years
had an understanding with that coun-
try: there Is no glory In going to war
with France, because Roumnnia is In
debted TO the republic for many things
not the least OF which was Napoleon
IT'S choice of Roumania's first King.
who just died"
He pointed out that the ties with Ger
many were largely Industrial with eco
nomic development OF Roumania stand
ing In a large measure as the work OF
Germans The ties with France were
sentimental, but strong
There is no reason why Roumania
should 20 to war with either France or
Germany" he said
why we should go to war is a mat
ter which Is born Of conditions nearer
home" The conditions he referred to
were the numbers OF Roumanians Living,
outside OF the Roumanian kingdom. He
charged that those in the TransvIvanIa
section OF Hungary had been denied
their rights to such an extent that few
Or them we're permitted to cast n ballot
fhere were also some 100000 Rou-
inanians in Ressarahia who, he said
IN their instance. Russia had shown
more political sagacity, giving the Rom
manians many important public offices
with the result that the Roumanlan I'm
reasonable feels half Russian even
now"
IF the war should lead TO politicaI
readjustments in Europe on a large
scale, said the Conservative leader.
the icast Roumania must do in that
case IT, to take such steps MS will re-
tion. Part OF this policy is to incor-
porate INTO Roumania such Roumanians
as are now without the borders OF the
,ho.her country. The man In the street
, n"iieNes that we ought to be able to
hring all of them into the. national
loid. That is absurd. OF course We
must either take the Roumanians OF
hungary or those OF Russia Which.
Is the question II we take any Mt ALL
his discussion OF the situation showed
It's compleNity. To incorporatc tho
i'"umanians in Pennsylvania would also
include the addition of some 1000, 600
iiungarians and Germans
rom the viewpoint OF race preserva-
tloii. there was more urgent need to re-
incorporate the Roumanians in Bessa
iapai. who were so speedily losing
nome ties of both language and Gus
toms.
mif we side with Russia, We must
reiinquish our Intentions rerardinr
tessarabia; If We side with Austria
hungary and Germany we would have
10 overlook the Hungarian Rouman-
ians.
am OF the opinion that an under
standing with Italy would he the best
po!lcE In that case we might some
tiihe thls summer say: Enough of this
pioodshed-let us have peace am
sure that i'm the settlement OF affairs
which would follow Roumania could
present her claims and set them hon
orcd. ~