Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-25
WHAT WILL RUMANIA Do NOW?

of 1915 was deferred, If not entirely de-
feated. by causes that remain secret.
After the Russian retreat of 1918. NJ.
role was more prescribed. NM. Carp.
and MaJoresco. German
ophiles. declared in favor of inter-
vention, because German success was
Filipesco decided Franco Russophilists.
policy of silence. but his Journals
accused the insufflciency of the con-
cessions made by Russia; of the lat
ters disquieting pretensions over the
straits; of the non-progress of the allies
in Gallipo1i: of the insufficieacy af Rus
sian troops concentrated in Bsssarab ia
il these We're destined to co-operat.
with the Rumanian army: finally the
mediocrity of the munitions and tn.
lack of financial means. NJ. Bratiauo's
agents and correspondents were active
and aggressive in justifying the calcu-
lated immobile policy of the Russian
minister.
NJ. Bratiano. in fact was master 81
the situation at Bucharest in the re-
Gently renewed parliament. The min
lister was backed in the chamber by 1919
votes. the old conservatives tnore or
less Germanophile and AustrophileD
numbered %. the ententist party of VI.
Take Janesco only IS. In the senate ".
Bratianos majority was less than
II democrats. Nevertheless Rumanis
never entertained the idea of interVeu-
ton in favor of the central empires.
parties might favor such a policy, hut
the people would oppose. Rumauia
could not take sides for Austria-Tfun-
gary. no more could Italy. and for like
reasons-the people.
Bulgaria's intervention sand attack
against Serbia in 1915 did not cause The
cabinet of Rumania to stir from IT'S
policy of immobility. Nevertheless the
defeat of Serbia and the action VI
Greece brought about a serious situa-
ton for Rumania. Bulgaria. victorious
over Serbia. would she not turn her
arms. sustained by her Austro German
allies. against her victorious adversaries
of 1913 Greece and Rumania). eNecute
vengeance and abolish the treaty
which had consecrated her defeat Ru-
mania contented herself by assembling
her increased electives on the panuh.
and on the Hungarian frontier. whore.
prepared for any emergency. she could
renew her vows of neutrality.
The rise of Saloniki was revelation.
Under the expert genius of the French
commander Salonikt
Occunation of became formidable
-, point of attack. a
ooioAAhi. spear pointed first Of
all against the bulRdT ~
Sofia In connection with the creation
of Saloniki the logical installation in
force of Italians at Valiona marks an
evolution in the operations of the war.
A phase in the Rumanian situation
has been the agitation among the agri-
culturists, who demanded of the gov
eminent the right to export their
wheat and as a result large stocks of
grain were sold to France and England. :
Germany and Austria-Hungary there
upon denounced these grain contracts
as derogatory to Rumania's neutral7
ity; the Rumanian government was
reproached not only with having toll
Grated these transactions but embar-
raised the transit of Hungary toward
Bulgaria or Turkey. and thus showed
hostility which authorized reprisals.
The history of the period from Janu-
ary-March, 1916, is obscure, and no IN
formation is available. II is known.
however. that the kaiser sent messen-
gers to King Ferdinand with the view
of communicating with NJ. Bratiano.
that the latter might be intimidated
and give a guarantee of neutrality
until peace was signed.
But the cabinet at Bucharest was not
intimidated by the threats. and on the
authority of certain well Informed per-
sons the Rumanian premier opposed 10
King Ferdinand. to Won Bethmann-
Hollweg and to Baron Won Buriam
the unreserved support of the demo
cratic conservatives. Bulgaria having
Joined the Austro-German action TO
press Rumania, received negative
response which was almost curt.
On April ~ the Swiss press at the
same time as the Wolfe agency an
nounced that "Rumania had signed a
commercial arrangement with Ger
many the German press reported the
conclusion of analogous accords with
Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria" Briefly
it was affirmed as a victory for the CEN
trail empire that IN. Bratiano had ad-
hered to the policy of Germany and
Austria.
The great agriculturists of Rumania
gained satisfaction when France and
England were permitted to
Wheat purchase several million hun
dredweights of Rumanian
orop. wheat. Now it appears that the
product of 1914 to 1915 was double the
usual crop and amounted to 24,50o.oo"
hundredweight, but for some reason
the whole stock was not taken. FIJI
teen million hundredweight remained
for other purchasers. Was it this re
mainder that Germany and Austria
purchased? II so it was scarcely the
fault of Rumania, but the incredible
fault of both France and England.
Rumania exported from 1913 to 1919
for s972O0,O00 of grain; for s13,2oo,oo"
Of petroleum. Rumania purchased $685.
o00. 900 of textiles: s6.400.0oo of made
up goods; s4.600.000 of hides; $31.400.ooo
Of metals: 100000 of silks, etc. Be
fore the war Rumania's best clients
were Holland and Bulgaria and Aus
tria Germany was only third in the
list. but circumstances of recent years
tripled and even quadrupled the com
mands of the two empires. Before the
A.