The Washington herald., 1919-02-14
VNIANI SEES
BALKAN ACCORD
Differences Between Serbia
and Rumania Not Ir-
reconcilable, He Says.
BY RENE NIyIANA
Former Premier Of France.

"ritten for Universal Service.
Paris, Feb 13.-Rumania. being con-
scious OF having broken no agree
ments with the allies. demands that
the latter also keep their promises
and facilitate execution of the secret
treaty OF August Il. 1916. which de-
termined Rumania's armed interven-
tion in the great war, and which
gave her the entire Banat of Temes-
var.
In support of her claim, Rumania
insists that the Banat constitutes
an historical and economic unit which
should not be divided, and in which
the Rumanian element dominates
Forests and minerals OF the noun
taineous region are. necessary to the
PLAIN, whose wheat keeps the noun
tain peoples alive.
Therefore, the entire Banat should
belong to Rumania, whose frontiers
North and West, as well as South,
ought to be the rivers Thiess and
Danube. Such is RGmania's claim.
Serbs, Claims Less Absolute.
The Serbs are less absolute in their
claims than are the RumanianS They
Banat, but demand only its western
portion where the Serbian population
is predominant. In support of their
claim, they insist that the Banat
does not constitute an indivisibIe unit
as Rumania asserts ii does. History.
say the Serbs, refutes this supposed
unity: Fleeing before the Turkish in
vasion, the Serbians from Serbia took
refuge in large numbers on the north
ern bank of the Danube. At that
time the Hungarians welcomed the
Serbs as allies against the Mussel-
man and recognized the government
formed by the Serbs. respecting spe-
cial liberties granted the Serbians un-
til recent times when Serbian help
was no longer needed by them.
Then the Hungarians tried to Mag
yarize the entire country at the ex-
pense of the Serbs. Nevertheless,
the latter retained their nationality,
and the Belgrade government believes
the hest solution will be based upon
the desires of the population. Ser
bia. therefore, is willing to accept
the verdict Of a pIebiscite, the nature
Of which it foresees.
To the Ruuanians. who invoke the
treaty of August II. 1916. the Ser
bians reply that later events invali-
dated this diplomatic contract. since
Rumania not only RECEIVERS the Bu-
kOwina. but receives. besides. Bessa-
rabia, to which Ruuania was not
previously entitled to lay claim.
Tho Serbians further support theft
thesis by invoking not only histori-
cal and sentimental arguments. but
economic and strategical reasons as
well. II is from the Plain of Banat
that Serbia draws the wheat neces-
Sary to her population. 1t is from
the Plain Of Banat, also. that an
invading army might rush into Ser
hia- against which she would have
no protection. neither at Belgrade nor
in the valley Of the Moravia, which
leads to the heart of Serbia.
Should We ask the Serbs. leave
our capital under the range or a
neighbor's cannon. even though that
Ueighbor may be friendly"
Claims Not IrreconcIIabIe.
But the claims of Rumania and
those of Serbia are not irreconCilable.
The governments at Belgrade and Bu-
charest are discussing things in good
faith and with the apparent desire to
reach a fair solution.
The RUmanian and Serbian armies
have shed their blood IN the same
cause. Both countries were invaded
and ravaGed by the same enemy,
while the friendly relations between
them in the past guarantee an ami
cable understanding in the future such
as Is an essential condition for COM
mOn prosperity.
Each. no daubt. will renounce claims
which hurt the rights of the other.
and they will accept without recrirn-
inatiOn the decision of the conference
IT Is difficult to saw at this time what
hat decision will be. 1t is probable.
however, that it will recognize the
right of Rumania to that portion OF
the Banat in which the Rumanian
population is predominant, reservinS
for Serbia the Serbian portion of the
Eanat. which is indispensable as a
bulwark for the security Of Belgrade.