Evening star., 1918-02-28
RUMAN|A FORCED
TO ASK FOR PEACE
Will Have to Pay Dearly for
Joining Allies in
War.
NEGOTIATIONS STARTED
BY RENE FEIBELMAN.

BY RENE FEIBELMAN.
to The Evening Star and
Chicago Daily News. Copyright, 1918.
AMSTERDAM, Holland. February
for peace between
the central powers and Rumania be-
gan Monday in the Castle of Bufteo.
sented by Foreign Minister DR.. Won
Kuehlmann; Austria, by Foreign Min
lister Count Czernin; Bulgaria by Pre-
mier Radolavoff. and Rumania, by the
new prime minister. Gen. Averescu.
No Official. intelligence has reached
Holland as to the outcome of the ne
gotiations, but the hope prevails in
Germany that the parley will be short.
Germany and Austria are basing
their expectations of success upon Ru-
mania's exhaustion and military weak
ness since the signing of the Ukrainian
Russian chaos. The negotiations are
taking place at Field Marshal Won
Mackenzen's headquarters, he having
been instructed by Hindenburg to rep
resent him. That the central powers
are going to take advantage of Ru-
mania's plight is certain, though they
say that they will make no territorial
claims against the kingdom.
To Make Rumania Pay Dearly.
Germany and Austria have de-
termined to make Rumania pay dearly
for having sided with the allies. Their
demands are chiefly economic regard
ing especially the early delivery of
wheat and oil, with binding con-
ton of all the Rumanian fields for
century.
Austria, and more especially Hun
gary, will demand that a new regime
be established over the mouth of the
Danube. SO that control there Will be
taken away from Ruanania. and, finally,
Bulgaria will demand the Debrudja-
which 1t now occupies, thus reducing
Rumania to the frontier she had before
the second Balkan war, in 1913. After
having robbed her of land and most of
her natural products, the central pow
ers will raise no objections to Rumania
securing strips of Bessarabian land.
This. however. does not depend solely
upon Germany and Austria, but also on
Russia and the Ukraine.
1t is hoped by Germany that Ru-
mania will accept these terms at once.
Hints are not lacking that in case Gen
Averescu refuses the terms or fails to
make counter proposals, Germany and
Austria Will continue their military OPP
erations and destroy all that is left of
Rumania- DIR. Won kuehlmann has been
ordered to make II clear TO 1fen. Aver
escu that the central powers make a
great concession in not demanding rhe
abdication OF King Ferdinand.
Say Rumania Ought to Be Pleased.
German papers say Rumania ought to
be pleased because Germany does not
demand the deposition of the present
king. This is a bitter disappointment
to Prince William of Hohenzollern
brother of King Ferdinand, who for a
long time has been intriguing to be
given the Rumanian throneA Since the
German occupation of Rumania Prince
William. with the consent of the Teuton
authorities. has repeatedly Travelled in
Rumania, trying to arouse sentiment in
favor Of his candidacy to the throne
but with little success. except with a
handful of Rumanian pro-German ac.
twists.
Unless a miracle happens Rumania
like Russia and the Ukraine is going
to be taught what DR.. Won Kuehlmann
considers honorable peace withou,
annexations or indemnities and on the
basis Of the self-disposition of peo-
pies"