Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-28

hahitants who arc capable vt Joining
Trotzky's armies IL they cross the bor
der, not so much through sympathy with
the polshcvih as through national ar.
tngonism 10 the Rumanian majority of
the population.
Moreover. Rumanio is suffering quite
as severely as other border states from
n shortage Of merchandise and food,
which is frustrating her reconstruction
aud pndangcring her political and ever
military stability. This food shortage.
which has caused tenfold increase in
tho cost Of living since tho war, iS on
tirc'v due to the collapse of tTanSpor-
tation.
Urgent Cry for Railroads
There is plenty of food in tho rich
Agricultural districts of the country,
hnt il is impossible to bring It ir suf-
fcicut quantities to the cities. The
rolling stock of the railroads was car
ricd OF hv tho Hungarians after Mack
cnscn'S victories. and but small per
cpntagc nf il has been recovered since
bv the Rumanians during their occupa
tion Of budapest
working order again and obtain some
AGRICULTURAL machinery for her farmers
she will be able To feed her people and
her army and 70 face bolshevism with a
stout heart.
The Ruman;ans are not clamcrtng for
financial aid all they want are locc-
motives and agricultural implements.
which. in spite Of all their efforts, they
have been unable to obtain from their
allies. Nor do they expect TO receive
this assistance without giving precious
aid in return.
If the TRANSFORMATION problem is salts
factorily solved. If tho peasants are
given n chance TO cultivate the rich soil
bv modern methods. Rumania will be
able and undertake to export 1000, 600
TONS of cereals grown on her old ter
ritory. and | 900 900 tons moro from
Rpssarahia. to feed the starving popula-
tinn Of Austria. whom the great powers
OF Europe are quite evidently imnotcnt
70 hpln and who seem doomed today to
absolute extinction.
Helping Rumania-and it surely is
not much for which she is aSking-thus
means rc. enforcing the barrier against
holshovism at its most vital point, and
Mt the same time saving from utter
destruction the otherwise doomed mil
lions OF Vienna and German Austria
and preventing tragedy unparalleled
in the annals Of history.
Rumania Turns to America
The Injustice and oven hostility which
has 80 far distinguished tho attitude OF
the supreme council toward Rumania
* not favorable augury. and it is
therefore naturally to America that she
turns in this hour Of supreme tribula
tion.
From the supreme council. or what is
still left Of it. Rumania will scarcely
get moro than good advice to conclude
a good peace" with the Bo'shpviki.
7 have discussed this new allied policy
cf "arranging peace" between the
Rolsheviki and their western ncichbors
with representative Poles. LithuanianS.
T'krainians and Rumanians. All thes"
men, who have been at close quarters
with the Russian Reds for the last two
years and have had every facility ia
study their mentality. unanimously
declare that it would be an absolutely
imnracticable paradox. n suicidal act OF
folly. to try to conclude peace with
them.
And yet Poland and I.ctvia are ever
now being forced TO conclude such
peace.
IF the Rolsheviki We're people who
are content to test their theories In
their own country. wc should gladly
advocate leaving them in neaCc to thPil
own devices" the RTmaniauS and Pole,
say. land we would be satisfied that il
is Russia. and not our own countries
that is the field Of experimental soviet
ism. hut they are international i'm
De-ialiSts who are impaCably bent or
imposing thcir doctrine and power unou
all Othrr lands.
Fear BolShevik Propaganda
IF we conclude peace with them. ouI
countries will b" Swarming Wit
BolShovik agents and undermined By
; aDarchic propaganda in a few months
Does the supreme council wish to drive
US IN national suicidc?'
II is difficult to describe the feeling!
of bitterness and despair which have
been aroused among the nations border
ing on Russia BY the decision of tn,
Paris council to lift the trade ban anC
SunDlv their invctcrate Bolshcvik foe,
with the material aad merchandise fOl
which they themselves so long begged il
vain.
They feel that they arc being ruth
cSSlv sacrificed to interests as bruta
AS they are obscure. and Il is but scan
consolation 10 them to know that III,
ing their own destruction also by thci,
selfish and short sighted policy.
Rumauia has bocu cruelty misjudgec
in many influential allied circles sine,
tie conclusion Of the arnrsticc. Tn,
5UDrcmc sacrifice which she made b,
entering tho var AT time whcl
Nurkcuscn vas on tho point Of launch
;ng great offensive against III
, Sa'onica army, and When Won Fuken
D hnvl had concentrated his forces Z
/ strike q decisive blow in southern Rus
,iu. has never been sufficiently ap
TL, prr,orsar or-,- L, Jirort;r