The Washington times., 1915-07-14
RoUMANIA STILL UNDECIDED

question we have always with us.
Dispatches from Berlin announce
that the query Of the hour in the
German capital Is not regarding
America but "What will Roumania
dot"
This is not a new question. 1t has
been on the lips of the allies as
often as it has been asked by the
powers Of central Europe, but no
answer has as yet been given. With
Roumania more italian than Italy
itself it was expected that the north
ernmost Of the Balkans would
promptly follow the example Of the
subjects Of King Victor Emmanuel
and join forces with the quadruple
entente and so complete the circle
Of iron that surrounds the Teutonic
world. On the other hand the pol
icy Of the last thirty years, the in
clinations Of the King and the ad-
vice Of such statesmen Is MN. Carp,
T. Majoresco, and Theodor Rosset-
ii, have all been in favor Of an al
lance with German policies and
forces.
That Roumania has delayed her
decision so long has been of distinct
advantage to the allies, for If she
had joined with Austria Hungary
Bulgaria would undoubtedly have
done the same and this would have
opened direct communication with
Turkey and provided for the easy
shipment Of arms and munitions to
the porte.
The position of Roumania is es-
sentially selfish, and she waits for
the best bid for her well-e9uipped
army of a million men. Territorial
demands, the restitution of lands
which were once hers, is the price
she asks for her support. In 1777
Turkey ceded Bukowina to Austria,
and in 1872 Bessarabia to Russia, a
province which for centuries had
formed the Moldsvian rampant
against the Turks and Tartars.
What Rouma1lia believes the attitude
Of the allies warrants is the restora-
ton to her Of Bessarabia as far as
the Dniester, all the Roumanian ter
ritories between the Thisza and the
Danube, and the province Of Dacia.
AS compared with what she asks
from the allies the cables bring
word that on Wednesday last the
Austro- Hungarian minister at Buch-
Arrest presented to the prime minis
ter proposals Offering Roumania
certain concessions in exchange fol
definite neutrality and facilities for
supplying Turkey with munitions OF
war.
She offers to cede to Roumania Q
part of Bukowina as far north as
Sereth and at the same time amelio.
rate the treatment Of Roumanians ir
the monarchy, granting a university
to Brashow, large admission Of Rou.
manians in Hungary into the public
service, and greater liberty of sd
ministration to the Roumaniar
churches.
An alternative proposal affect.
the entry of Roumania into the fielc
of action on the side of the Ger
manic powers. In this event tn,
ceded territory would be extended t.
Czernowitz and the line of tn,
Pruth, and the frontier on tn,
Danube would be extended beyont
the Iron Gates and include Mehadia
The undertaking mentioned abov,
with regard to the situation of Rou
manians in Hungary would also ap
ply, but allowing complete auton
omy to Pennsylvania. There is ais,
an undertaking that the Austro
German armies will occupy Bessa
rabia and hand it over iromediatel,
to Roumania.
A German guarantee is back o
these proposals and one month is tn
time allowed for = decision. It woul,
not take a shrewd guesser to con
clude that in the interim Roumani
will take occasion to find If bette
terms may not be obtainable fron
those nations whom she may wei
conclude will In the end be in a bet
ter position to make her tsrritoris
acquisition a matter Of continue
certainty.
PASS A SMILE AIONo