The Bismarck tribune., 1925-09-29
PEACE OR WAR UP TO QUEEN MARIE
Her Skill in Love and DiplO.
macy May Prevent Conflict
in Balkans
BY NEA Service

BY NEA Service
London, Sept. 29.-The diplomatic
skill of the worlds most beautiful
and skillful queen, which already has
won her several victories in love and
politics. now faces its supreme test.
Can the lovely Queen Marie Of
Rumania prevent the threatened war
between her country and soviet Rus
sia over the possession of the rich
and fertile country Of Bcssarabia?
For centuries war making seems
to have been in the chief occupation
of royalty in that tiny section Of the
world known as the Balkans. In this
area wars have started over things
that seemed trivial to the rest Of
the world
Yet almost overnight these con-
flicts have embroiled nearly all the
Balkan states and then spread to
other parts Of Europe. AS was the
case with the World War.
Menacing Situation
Diplomats agree that a most men,
acing situation again exists in this
"war hatchery" Should war come
it is almost certain to involve other
countries than Rumania and soviet
Russia.
Queen Marie's great ambition has
been to make her country dominant
in the Balkans by making each one
Of her beautiful daughters a queen.
In this way the "mother-in-law Of
the Balkans has believed it would
be possible to unite the tiny coun-
tries and preserve peace.
In this she has been partly sue
cessful.
One daughter is now queen of
JugOslavia and another married the
now deposed king of Greece.
Royal Match Making
During the last year Queen Marie.
apparently realizing that the Bessar-
abian question some day would reach
crisis. has shrewdly sought CO.
operation Of the allies by visits to
the capitals Of western Europe.
Here again she combined her gSeat
game of love and politics, by seek
ing to arrange match between her
youngest daughter, Princess Heanna,
and the worlds most priced bachc-
lor, Prince of Wales.
France seemed more friendly to-
ward her than any other nation, but
here again the queen showed her
political skill. Marie knew a Mill
tary alliance with France would
ALLEVIATE Great Britain against her,
just ut the time that country was
establishing relations with the So
Wet.
And so her lack of complete sue
cess On her trip makes the problem
now facing her all the more difficult
to solve.
Bessarabia has been a potential
cause of war for more than a CEN
tury.
Russia acquired most of Bessarabia
in 1912 through a treaty with Tur-
key. 1t remained in Russia's pos
session until 1856 when it was grant
ed autonomy under Turkish rule.
In 1877 over Rumanian protests,
Bismarck, the great German Iron
chancellor" insisted On giving the
country back to Russia, thus hoping
to sow discord between Russia and
Rumania, according to some histor-
ians.
Republic Proclaimed
Then came the World War and the
Russian revolution. Bessarabia pro-
claimed itself independent under the
name of the Moldavian republic.
But Rumania, anxious to extend
its domains, took advantage of this
situation to send troops into Bessara-
bia on the grounds that most of the
people there wanted annexation.
Census figures show that the ma
jority of people in Bessarabia are
Moldavian and closely akin to the
Rumanians. For this' reason Ruman-
las claim to the country was upheld
at Versailles, despite protests of
those in Bessarabia favoring inde-
pendence. They sought a plebiscite
to determine whether the country
should be independent or ruled by
Russia or Rumania.
Charges Soviet Plot
Soviet Russia has steadfastly re-
fused to recognize the award to Ru-
mania.
Rumania charges that Bolshevist
agents have repeatedly tried to stir
up revolution in Bessarabia.
The recent revolt against the Ru-
manians in Kishinev, the capital of
Bessarabia, has brought the question
to crisis.
And now the great question Of
peace or war hinges largely on the
skill of Queen Marie.
She can win for herself an even
more notable place in history if she
can avert war now.