Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-20
FERDINAND WANTS
TOSTEP DOWN AND
GIVE CAROL THRONE
King Issues "UItimatum" at
Secret Council and Sends
Emissary to Paris.
PRINCE DEMANDS DIVORCE
AND A NEW GOVERNMENT
Makes National-Peasant Cabinet
Condition of Return-Fight
Over Regency Goes On.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, December 20.-King Ferdi
nand of Rumania wishes to abdicate
the throne and restore former Crown
Prince Carol to the rights he re
nounced on January last.
The King made this known to his
ministers at a secret council held il
Bucharest last week, it is learned
from high Rumanian politica
source in Paris.
AS a result of the Kings ultima
was sent to Paris and already has ad
vised Ferdinand that Carol is willing
to comply with his fathers wishes
but under certain conditions.
Carol Demands Divorce.
These are first that King Ferdinand
must acquiesce to Carols divorcins
Princess Helen-that If possible she
must leave the country before his re
turn-and second, that before he as
cends the throne, the present govern
ment must be thrown out and demo
cratic cabinet, headed by Prof. Jorga
and comprising the leaders of the new
National-Peasant party, must be
given power.
"I am a sick old man." King Ferdi-
nand is reported as having told his
ministers. Il want to retire entirely
from public life."
The secret council at which the
King made his wish known was at.
tended by Queen Marie, Premier
Averescu, Jan Bra atiano, who is some.
times called the Uncrowned King of
Rumania," Gen. Coanda and several
other leading political figures.
Whatever months or years 1 may
have to live, and / understand the
learned professors differ on that ques-
tion," the King is reported to have
said, II wish to devote to the care
OF my health and perhaps make the
prophesies of the experts go wrong"
Quarrel Over Regency.
He then continued with an exposi-
ton of his views in a most decided
manner for man who a few DAYS
ago was reported to be within the
shadow of death.
At the present time there is a
sharp quarrel at the royal palace over
the succession of power. Queen Marie.
supported by Bratiano and Prince
Stirbey, the latter's brother-in-law,
wants a place on the regency which
is now made up of Prince Nicolas.
the president of the Supreme Court
and the patriarch of the Rumanian n
Church.
1t is considered an aboslute GER.
tainty that while the King lives he
VIII never consent to this. as it would
mean the final exile of Prince Carol,
since the iatter's relation with his
royal mother, despite their two recent
meetings in Paris, are believed to be
worse than ever
Next Move Is Question.
Thus the two questions that dom
mate the Rumanian situation are
viii Ferdinand go to Paris to see
Carol or will Carol come to Bucharest
to visit his father?"
Ihere Is no question of a republic
Is asserted. and the monarchy will
pe maintained, but what form the reg
ency Will assume is the matter now a,
stake.
In the present mood of the ponula
tion. 1T is felt, any attempt on tht
part OF Carol to come back to Ru
mania by force of arms would be re-
pressed Immediately Careful oh
servers say that the army is mucl
less favorable to Carol than has beer
reported hitherto. Consequently tbe
former Crown Prince, evervhodl
agrees, would find himself in iail :
Few hours after reaching Rumaniar
soil. Some of his friends say that i,
rs his intention to emulate the Inflated
attempt of his cousin, former En-
peror Charles of Austria, and ente,
Rumania by airplane. His counselors
however, have advised him not to re
turn unless he can make his enfr,
with Iuii honors and under the ex
pressed desire of his father.