Evening star., 1918-01-20
BoIshevik Threats to Seize
King Cause Hostile
Preparations.
ULTIMATUM OF LENINE
ADDS TO INTERNAL CHAOS
Russians Completely Surrounded by
Enemy Forces, But Hun Efforts
to Start Civil War Fail. I
BY LOUIS EDGAR BROWNE.

BY LOUIS EDGAR BROWNE.
Cablegram to The Sunday Star and
-. .-,.sa Oany News. Copyright. 1913
PETROGRAD. Russia, January II (de-
layed5.-The Rumanian situation In
increasingly grave.
The soviet has received no answer to
the latest ultimatum sent to Jassy pre-
vious to the release yesterday Of the
Rumanian minister here. The peoples
commissaires, resenting Rumanian hos
tility to bolsheviki, actually contem-
plate personal action against the Ru.
manian king. There is wild talk around
the Smolny Institute of bringing King
Ferdinand to Petrograd under arrest
and imprisoning him in the Fortress OF
Peter and Paul to face charges Of
crimes against the democracy.
1t was reported yesterday that an
order for the kings arrest had been
prepared for Lenines signature.
So far. the Russ1ln forces in
Rumania have not been instructed to
act Nevertheless the Rumanian govern
ment is really worried and Is taking
extreme measures to prevent its king
from being molested.
Would Result in War.
Should the soviet attempt to carry
out its wild scheme the Rumantans
would resist and war would result
There was a full meeting of the diplo-
matte corps at the American embassy
yesterday at which the Rumanian crisis
was the sole topic of discussion. No
definite decision was reached. except
that the members of the corps would
remain in Petrograd regardless oS
events. .Nsz
Rumanfa is bitterly hostile to social
ism. King Ferdinand and his goyeEns
ment hate the bolshevik princtpln1k.
which are spreading in the army end
among the psasantry; Tnsre are zUs:oss
!; = - j. = sksssd SSisAeStjs79
and who s1p663t erer$ decre4 of IT,
9oxfsf. They AA9Otiatad aagaf4te Ar@>l
fsttce: tEnoring kumAn!a,s Mthorlxe
from the shoulders Of the 0llscsss. eiecf
ed commissafres and them as the laet
straw became proselytes to maximA1tet
principles as demonstrated by Russias
entered Rumania to save her remain bey
hind to overthrow her existing instftu.
ton.
Harbored 2oo, 900 Russians. 81
Rumania harbored 100000 Russian sol.
propaganda and uttering
sentiments. Rumania could
not get rid of them. When the situation
In the Ukraine became critical RumanfA
sided with the Ukraine against the boil
sheviki, endeavorfng to embarrass the
soviet government and kill its institu.
tions.
The adherents of the allies in Rumania
indicated extreme hostility to the boil
sheviki. Allied officers at the Russian
headquarters made statements condemn-
ing the soviet's peace projects. The un-s.
attitude of Rumania in
opposition to the bolsheviki is due large-
ly to the belief that this is in the inter.
est of the allies.
The Russian army in Rumania Is
surrounded by hostile
forces. The Austrians and Germans are
on the west. the Ukranians on the north
and the Rumanians on the east and
the south. Supplies of food and cloth.
ing have been stopped. resulting in se-
we're suffering and actual hunger Com
missaries who were sent to the Ru-
manian headquarters to protest were
certain regiments were starv-
ed, some were surrounded by machines
gun platoons and disarmed. More com.
niSSaries were killed.
Reach Breaking Point.
These incidents resulted in a sharp
between the soviet and the
point was reached at Brest-Litovsk
when DIR. Won Beuhlmann informed M.
rrotzky that several Austrian officers
who were delegates to the Russian
atfng to the armistice, had been exc
,uted by the Rumanians as spies"
remembering the hostility of
1umania, telegraphed to Lenine to send
IN ultimatum to King Ferdinand's gov
and requiring an answer in
wenty-four hours. Trotzky then sug-
rested that the peoples commissaries
.rrest the Rumanian minister in Petro-
,rad and break an old precedent SO
that the civilized world
would be forced to investigate the
auses of the Russ s-Rumanian. dispute
The ministers arrest created the de-
ired storm. The British and French
Embassies first determined to quit
aussia, but the American ambassador
efused to join them, proposing in
tead round robin protest. Lenine
hen invited the allied diplomats to
;molny and promised to explain Rus
las side of the controversy. He said
hat the Russ Rumanian minister
hould finally convince the diplomats
hat the Russ -Rumanian situation was
eally serious and that allied pressure
Arrest Less Serious.
..The arrest Of Cass NJ. Diamand. the
.umanian minister" said Lenine, lis
sss serious than a bloody war. We
now nothing an dcare less about prec-
dent. We searched for some means
( bringing upon you realization of
he gravity of the situation and we
ound il. We are trying to run this =
ountry on the basis of common sense
nd justice. and are maintaining some
emblance of law and order. Your in.
,rvention with Rumania win save
,uch loss of life" Another ultimatum
,as sent to Rumania Tuesday, but no
eply was received. The peoples COM
issaires before the ministers re-
,ase demanded immediate action and
tempted to force NJ. Diamand to sign
,me papers. Several Of the commis-
.ires favor having the Russian forces
/ Rumania march to Jassy and ar
,st King Ferdinand. Such action
ould cause joy to the Russian sol
|ers in Rumania because of the Bit,
n feeling which exists.
The Russian soldiers for several
onths have been uttering angry senti-
ents against the king. who. unlike
has not been smeared over
ith the finger prints Of German In
igue, bribery and propaganda. The
tuation in Rumania has been COM
icated by clever propagandists. who