Evening star., 1916-09-29
regard to Serbia and had not been cor
suited about 1t. =
Cause Of Kings Death.

suited about II.
Cause Of Kings Death.
"sBut when the deciding session of tn,
crown council was held the aged kint
did not succeed as against the govern
lment, whose prime minister, notwith'
standing treaty obligations. sympathiz
ed with the entente powers. A shor'
time later the king died IN consequence
of the emotions caused BY realization
that Rumania was traitor to her al
lies.
1.-The Rumanian policy was now
guided by Premier Bratiano. who at
tempted to gain riches without making
Igreat sacrifices at the expense OF the
main point was to discover in time
which party was about to win final
victory. in order not to be too late.
Nevertheless. during the first year of
the war. probably after the fall of Lem
berg. Premier Bratiano. leaving his
sovereign in ignorance, concluded a
treaty of neutrality with Russia. After
the fall of Prxemysl he thought the
time had come to reach an understand
ing in regard to pay for Judas-like
Russia desired to increase her own vast
territory by taking Bukowina, while
Rumania not only wished this same
Bukowina. but also all Hungarian ter
Entente Favored More and More.
The chancellor added that in spite of
this failure Rumania's policy of neu-
trality favored the entente more and
more He said Rumania attempted TO
collaborate with the British efforts to
establish a blockade OF Germany, with
holding grain purchased by Germany
until the grain was obtained by means
of energtic pressure. The premier
again hesitated when the central pow
ers, initiating the offensive in Galicia
in the spring of last year. broke
through the Russian line at Gorlice, and
was in doubt whether he had placed his
wager on the right horse. Negotiations
with the entente were almost sus-
pended. .s-a t." i.
The Russian offensive this spring."
the chancellor continued. made Pre-
mier Bratiano believe he saw the break
ing down of the central powers. Ac-
cordingly he decided to obtain share
when the robbery of the dead body be-
gan. Furthermore. the entente powers
had freer hand in conducting negotia-
tions than others. Serbia had been
conquered and the protectors of small.
feeble states were no longer obliged
former wishes in regard to the annex
alton of territory. They could be more
liberal toward Rumania.
King for Neutrality.
In the middle of August Bratiano
came to terms with our enemies. He
reserved for himself. however, the de-
cision as to the time actual hostilities
were to be inaugurated and attempted
to make it dependent on military con.
| 0f rfo %
that time had repeatedly given the
most binding assurances that under all
circumstances he would remain neutral.
Finally the Rumanian minister in Ber-
lin, on the order Of the king, gave to me a
formal declaration that the king desired
to maintain Rumania's neutrality and
that the government was In a position to
do SO. Premier Bratiano declared to the
German minister at Bucharest, Baron
Bussche- -Haddenhausen, that he fully in
dorsed the declaration Of the king. How
ever. we were not deceived. We were
Informed continuously in regard to Bra
tianos negotiations during August and
constantly directed the kings attention
to the secret intr1gues of his prime min
lister. The king declared several times
that Bratiano was not binding himself
to the entente. As late as three days be-
fore the declaration of war the king said
to Our minister that he knew the over
whelming majority Of the Rumanian ma
ton did not desire war. To an intimate
friend the king declared on the same day
in the most categorical fashion that he
would not sign an order for mobilization
Reassured Day Before War.
August 26. the day preceding Ru-
mania's declaration Of war. the king said
to the Austro- Hungarian minister that he
did not wish war. 1 add in passing that
Bratfano at the same time assured the
Austro- Hungarian representative that he
had decided to maintain neutrality and
that the outcome Of the session of the
crown council which had been called for
the following day would prove the truth
Of his words.
"As late as August 20 the entente
powers had not decided at what mo-
ment Rumania ought to declare war.
We know this from most reliable
source. The Rumanian army still
lacked preparedness. and particularly
at the time Of the fall OF Turtukai and
Silistria.
Then events were precipitated
From information which may be con-
sidered reliable 1t appears that Russia
suddenly presented an ultimatum that
she would cross the unprotected Ru-
manian frontier II Rumania did not
begin war before August 2S. Whether
this ultimatum was a piece Of comedy
prearranged with Bratiano in order to
influence the hesitating king. l have
undecided. but the die was cast
m. BRAND (premier Of France) in