Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-02-17

NCA many anu AuSIIld-I1uHSdry from
Rumania as the result of negotiations
which have just been terminated. An
option for another $4,000 carloads has
also been secured by the agents of the
Central Powers. The Rumanian gov
eminent has sanctioned the transac-
ton, and export begins Immediately.
A great deal of grain bought by the
Central Powers months ago, but SO
afr unsupported for various reasons,
will also be moved now. Shipment
will be made over every available
railroad and on the Danube.
Negotiations were conducted by the
Rpmanian Grain Sales Commission
ard the Cereal Central of the German,
Austrian and Hungarian governments.
The grain consists principally Of
Indian corn, wheat, barley, beans and
lentils. 1t will be paid for partly in
gold, but the greater share of the
purchase price will be in German
paper currency, marks. The transac-
ltion is remarkable for the fact that
for the cost of the cereals the Rum
anian government will get a credit on
the Deutsche Reichsbank in Berlin,
for which the Rumanian National
Bank will then issue notes, these
notes reaching the sellers of the
grain.
The foodstuffs so procured will be
divided among Germany and Austria
Hungary as follows: Six cars of each
shipment to Germany and five to Aus
tria and Hungary. Cars and means Of
river transportation will be provided
by the Central Powers
With another $4,000 cars held on
option by the Central Powers, and
with Turkey and Bulgaria also in the
market, Rumania disposes of her en-
tire 1915 crop, of which but little has
been moved. Available also is still a
good share of the 1914 crop, which
Rumania was not disposed to sell TO
the Central Powers last spring and
summer, owing to the belief that the
Dardanelles would be forced by the
Allies. Some of the cereals sold to
tie Allies were moved via Tufn-Sev-
erin and Kladowa, whence they were
taken over the Serbian railroads to
Ssloniki The conquest of Serbia
closed this route.
With no prospect that the 1915 crop
could be sold to neutrals or the En-
tente group, Rumania was obliged to
sell to the Central Powers group; at a
price which is said to be very advan-
tageous to the latter. Figures are not
available, however, But that the Cen
trail Powers drove a hard bargain is
said here to be indicative by the fact
that very little gold changes hands,
whereas all previous purchases in
Rumania by the Central Powers were
made with gold as the only acceptable
equivalent.
The transaction was discussed in
the Rumanian parliament and was
Btoutly opposed by the friends of the
Entente, among them notably Jake
Jonescu, Toma Jonescu, Filipescus
and Mile. Government members and
the grain and alnded class interests
took the position that Rumania stood
in sore need of the revenues to be de-
rived from the sale, these being the
only income Rumania has with which
to cover imports. Very stormy scenes
ensued, but the opposition lost.
Rurnanias position is due to her
complete isolation from the worlds
grain consumers. The closing of the
Dardanelles left Rumania no other
route than that through Serbia, which
is now closed ALSO To the Central
Powers, Rumania would not sell, AMI
what little was bought had to be taken
at prohibitive prices to which vast
sums in teh form of extortion of one
sort or another had to be added. 1t is