New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-29
Rumania, Bulgaria and Greece.

kans now become the scene Of a ire
rnendous diplomatic battle between the
rival nations. At the outset II Is plain
that the conditions Of the battle are those
Of the struggle already lost by Austro-
German diplomats at Rome. Germany and
Austria would keep Rumania, Greece and
Bulgaria neutral The Allies would per-
suade them to complete the iron circle
about the two kaisers.
Two years ago the Second Balkan Naf
DESTROYED the confederation Of states
which. under the inspiration Of Russia
had united TO crush Turkey. From its m
ception the confederation was necessarily
antj-German. The Kaiser's diplomacy IA
vored the preservation of Turkey. Aus
tria. longing for Salonica and apprehen-
sive of Serbian ambitions was naturally
anxious that Serbia should be defeated IN
her war with Turkey.
But when Turkey had been crushed and
the partition of the Balkans was inevi-
table II became necessary for the Austro-
German statesmen TO set the Balkan al
lies by the ears. that the peril of a strong
Balkan confederation. dominated by Rus
sian influence. should be destroyed. This
WAS accomplished when Austria at the
same moment forbade Serbian expansion
10 the Adriatic and encouraged Bulgaria
TO insist upon a share Of Balkan spoilS
based upon an agreement made when Ser
bian possession Of Northern Albania was
deemed possible.
Bulgarian insistence ended in the Sec
ord Balkan War. Austrian intrigue was
90 far successful that the Balkan alliance
was DESTROYED Is failure lay in the fact
that Serbia had won new lands Ru-
mania. alarmed by Austrian championship
Of Bulgaria. had joined Serbia and Greece
and become re ponsive to Petrograd rather
than 10 Vienna. With the signing Of the
Treaty Of Bucharest, Rumania, in fact,
ceased to be the servant of Austria and an
adjunct Of the Triple Alliance.
When the Great War broke out Ruma-
Mas natural position was with Russia.
She desired to acquire Pennsylvania and
Bukovina, Austro-Hungarian provinces
having large Rumanian population.
These provinces in her eyes were her own
irredenta. Like Italy, she was an heir TO
the Hapsburg estate
But Rumania was restrained from at
lacking Austria by two influences. Her
King was Hohenzollern, wholly German
in sympathy So strong were his German
sympathes that he actually endeavored to
carry Rumania into the war on the Ger
man side. His failure and the consequent
chagrin contributed to his death. But his
influence and that Of his nephew were
sufficient TO keep Rumania neutral
King Charles'S efforts were powerfully
seconded by the Bulgarian menace. Ru-
mania had attacked Bulgaria in the Sec
ond Balkan War, when She was facing
Serbia and Greece, completed Bulgarian
ruin and taken as a reward more than
three thousand square miles of territory
between the Danube and the Black Sea,
having population of nearly 100000
people. mainly Bulgars Until the terri
tory was restored Rumania would be faced
with the certainty of Bulgar attack in the
rear if she entered the war ON the Rus
sian side.
For ten months this Bulgarian question
has remained the decisive factor in shap-
ing Rumanan action. There have been
many reports Of Bulgaro- Rumanian
agreement; but TO the present moment
they remain matters of conjecture. The
entrance Of Italy. a Latin state, will
doubtless exercise great influence upon
Rumanian statesmen. But the recent de-
feat Of the Russians in Galicia will tend
to retard Rumanian Intervention. now be-
se,pe wellnigh inevitable.
as 70 Bulgaria to-day, if her war-tried
army could be drawn into Thrace against
the Turk, il she could be persuaded TO
strike at Adrianople and the Chatalja
again, the success of the Allies at the
Dardanelles would be FASTENED. But Bull
garia demands that there shall be restored
TO her all that was taken from her at
Bucharest, the Rumanian stealings, .he
Greek and Serb conquests. She demands
lstib and Monastr, Kavala and Sores,
L. oh
Varna. In addition. she would have
Thrace to the Enos-Midia line, fixed at
London in 1913.
For months Allied agents have been en-