Evening star., 1915-12-05


at the critical moment and has sil
As to the German influences they
have been exerted from the very start
with great success, SO far as the ques-
tion of Rumanian neutrality is con-
cerned, but have failed to enlist Ru-
mania for reasons that will be de-
scribed presently. At the very outset of
the world war King Charles of Rumania
called his ministers together to pre-
pare 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 at
tempt this meant TO produce revolution.
Thus threatened, he was obliged to
abandon his plan. and his disappoint-
ment 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 TACT tnal
German kings or queens ruled in Bal
kan capitaIs. To Napoleon III is to pe
charSeu the fact that HonenzoIIern
dynasty is seated al Bucharest, and in
EtumaIlla, as in Greece, the crown mas
worked against the larger dreams OF
the people, Tor the greater good not oI
kunIantan or Hellenic aspirations, but
Tor tine triumph Teulunisn IN tue
world Thus the Balkan situation may.
be summarized as state popular
sympathy with the allies, wholly re-
strained by dynastic alliance with
Germany and Austria.
Rumanian Aspiration.
As the situation has developed in the
near east, however, il has become more
and more unnistaka BILE that the true
direction of Rumanian action must be
against Austria. This arises from the
fact that il is in Austrian territory that
Eumania sees the promise OF the fu-
tVre Tor herself Like Greece, like SER
bia. like Bulgaria, kumania has
dream; a race ambition. Indeed hers
IS the most considerable of all the Bal
kan dreams. Greater Kumania, II real
lzed, VIII 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 Ru-
mania it is necessary to nix in mind
this great dream. Always as the pen
dulunI swings backward and forward
In the near east IL is essential to recall
that the RumanIan people like the
Gfeek, looking forward to the
downfall OF a great empire as the pre-
lude to the realization OF their own
racial unity. what Turkey is for the
1reeks Austria is for the Ruma anians.
But Always, too, IT is necessary to re-
the financial interests IN Bucharest, as
In Athens, are operating against ma
ionai wishes and Tor the alliance
whose success means to the people the
iuln oI ali their hopes.
In addition IL Is necessary TO recall
briefly the development or Runauian
poicy, the forces and facts which have
lHnuthced the course OF events in this
hlhsdom and s1ll materially affect its
uip!ondtlc and national action. In this
article / purpose frst to review yery
briefly the recent events in Rumanian
, history antedatins the great war and
then 10 outline the present hopes and
purposes of the patriots as contracted
with the Teutons in Bucharest
In the last Russo-Turkish war Runa-
MA fought with the Russians against
the Turks When the cars armies
crossed kumania to invade Bulgaria
then Turkish territory, the Russian en-
peror paid little heed TO Kumanian
wishes and showed scant courtesy TO
King Charles. But a few weeks later,
when Russian armies were in extreme
peril in the Balkan mountains, the
czar made a personal appeal to the
fumanian king, who responded
promptly, and the Rumanian army
played large role in the defeat of
the Turk.
Instead of rewarding Rumania for
her aid the czar promptly turned his
back upon a king who had proved a
friend IN need. AT the congress of Ber-
lin Russia was permitted to take from
Runania the Bessarabian territory at
the mouths of the Danube which was
Rumanian and peopied by Rumanians
BY way Of compensation Rumania re-
ceived the Dobrudja province, between
the Black and the Danube This
was ba rren stretch, populated by
Bulgars and Turks. Rumania thus ac-
quired province Of small value and
quarrel with Bulgaria which has lasted
10 the present hour. Today. always
p ia T4E al rSU aIratr
brudja
a natural consequence of Russian
seifshness was thei alliance of Ruma-
His with Austria and Germany. Hence
forth Rumania was silent partner OF
the triple alliance. In the past thirty
years kumania has marched steadily
toward wealth and power. Her grain
neids and OIL wells have made her pros
porous. Her population has increased
rapidly. Bucharest has become a great
modern city. modelled on Paris and pos
sessing boulevards which at least rival
those Of Brussels. Her army has grown
e., 70 Importance. ~ Long before he died
King Charles had his revenge. and Ru-
Inanian hostility was real obstacle
10 Russian purpose In the Balkans.
The Second Balkan War.
II was not until the Balkan wars of
three years ago that there was any in
terruption in the friendly relations be-
tween Vienna and Bucharest. But in
the first Balkan war Bulgaria achieved
swift and great victory, and BuIEa
ran ambition was uncovered as peril
not only to Rumanian desire to remain
the leading power of the Balkans. but
also to the integrity Of the Rumanian
kingdom. For at this time there was
disclosed the Bulgarian determine tion
10 repossess the Dobrudja, which had
now been transformed into prosper
Gus province. and held Costanza, the
sole window of Rumania on the sea
Al the close OF this war Ruma MIA
asked Bulgaria for the cession OF Silis-