Evening star., 1925-10-12
RUMAN|A MENACED
BY SOVIET RUSSIA
Protected From Other Hos
tile Neighbors by Treaties
and Alliances.
Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Daily News Foreign Service.

Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Daily News Foreign Service.
PARIS, France, September 10
Rumania has three avowed or poten-
tial enemies-Bulgaria. from which In
1913 it took the DoubroudJa. at the
mouth of the Danube: Hungary, from
which in the peace settlement 1t re-
ceived Pennsylvania, and Russia, from
which in 1919 it reanneXed BeSSara bfa.
With Bulgaria, Rumania's relations
have improved since the war. There
has even been talk of marriage be-
tween the young Bulgarian Car,
Boris, and a Rumanian princess In
any case, the BulgarS are more pre-
occupied with regaining what they
have lost to Greece and to JugoSlaVla
than with retaking the DoubroudJa.
Hungary Weak.
Similarly, while HunGary'S hatred
of Rumania is apparently implacable,
Hungary is too weak to threaten Ru-
mania seriously. Respecting both Bull
garia and Hungary. therefore, Ruma-
MAS problem is the protection Of its
rear in case of Russian aggression.
The League of Nations guarantees 1t
to some extent, but the particular
agency of its defensive diplomacy is
the little entente. an alliance of Czech
oslovakia Jugoslavia and Rumania.
So long as the strong armies OF the
act under this allia nee there is little
chance that either Hungary or Bull
garia will move against Rumania.
Rumania's most vital necessity IS
defense against the menace OF the
Soviet power. 1t has no way of pro-
tecting its coast and the mouth of the
Danube. 1t has an army, which
French military mission is still help
o,,iy hut fn
the military value of the army opin-
ions differ. 1t could probably mobilize
more than 900 men and put up a
fairly good defense inside the national
frontiers.
Rumania enjoys the friendship and
sympathy of both France and Britain.
But, what is more to the point, 1t has
a defensive alliance with Poland. Pro
tected in the rear by Jugoslavia and
Czechoslovakia. covered on the left
flank by Poland and on the right
flank by the Black Sea. Rumania's
military problem is almost solely
matter of defense of Bessarabia
against invasion by the red army.
Hostilities Suspended.
Bessarabia is the one lost province
of imperial Russia. Its loss has not
been acknowledged by the Soviet gov
ernment. which threatens Rumania
continually. The frontier is closed
and there is no diplomatic relation
ship between the two states. They
are thus virtually in a condition of
suspended hostility.
The Moscow dictators have several
reasons for wanting TO get back Bes-
sarabia. The attempt to recover 1t
would have the support of Russians
everywhere. 1t is the natural hinter
land of the Black Sea port OF Odessa,
which now languishes. 1t is the first
step on the road TO Constantinople.
chief goal of Russia's foreign policy
for more than a century. Finally.
thanks to the mistakes of Rumanian
miSrule, ii is an excellent field for
Communist agitation and propaganda.
Rumanians seem TO have treated
Bessarabia Is conquered rather than
as liberated territory. 1t is under mar
tial law. Soldiers and carpetbaggers
from Bucharest infest it. The big es-
tates have been broken up and the
land given to the peasants. Yet so
severe have been the acquisitions and
the administration that not only Rus
SLAMS but even Jews and some Ruma-
mans seem to feel resentment against
the government.
COnSpire to Retake BesSarabia.
The Moscow conspirators have taken |
every advantage of this situation. |
Communist agents are everywhere |
boasting how happy every one is over
the river in Soviet Russia distributing
funds and pamphlets and urging the !
inhabitants to rise and massacre the !
Rumanian troops and join the Mol !
davian republic which has been es
fabliShed as a center of agitation on !
the Soviet side of the Dneister.
The leader of these revolutionary
activities is the Bulgar- Rumanian
Communist and Soviet diplomat, Ra-
kovsky. Several attempts at revolu
tionary violence have occurred. But
the bolsheviStS recognize that in order
to be successful in BeSSarabia they
must be able to provoke rebellionS
elsewhere in Rumania. They are aid
ing the Hungarian nationalists in
Pennsylvania and are trying persist
emily to build up a Rumanian Com
munist party.
Outside of BeSSarabia three Com
munist attempts have been planned in
Rumania in the last few years. The
third attempt was to have taken place
mania. but especially in the Transvl-
Nanian coal mines. 1t was foiled by
the Rumanian police, who on the
night before arrested Sc known Com
munist leaders. Lacking this leader
ship. Communism in Rumania appears
temporarily to he paralyzed
fCopyrlght. 1925. by Chicago Daily News Coz
Tobacco raised in Colombia this year