Evening star., 1926-12-13
RUMAN|A DECLARED
RIPE FOR DICTATOR
Chances of Carol, However,
Believed Doubtful if He
Should Try Coup.
BY the Associated Prese.

By the Associated Prese.
PARIS, December 13.-The death Of
King Ferdinand of Rumania is now
a matter of weeks--a few months at
best---in the opinion of most reliably
Informed travellers reaching Paris
from Bucharest.
These travellers affirm that the re-
cent series Of operations performed
upon the sick monarch were only tenn
porury expedients and that the cancer
Gus growth in the intestines, which is
the real seat of the trouble, has not
been touched.
Only the gravest form Of surgical
intervention, with desperate odds
against the royal patient. would In
sure the Kings Improvement, and at
the present state of affairs the sur
geons decline to take such a step on
the ground that 1t probably would re-
suit In the immediate death of Ferdi-
nand.
Reports that former Crown Prince
Carol will go to Bucharest to bid fare
we'll to his father constantly are re-
curing, say the travellers. but they
add 1t appears that while the King
would like to see his son, Queen Marie
and the BratianO brothers, who admit
tedly hold strong sway over Rumanian
political affairs, are strongly opposed
TO 1t.
Turn Against Carol.
In the upper classes of court circles
Carol is declared to be extremely un-
popular. This is true also as regards
the army, where previously he had
found his strongest support Recent
events, 1t is asserted, seem to have
swung the pendulum against him.
Nevertheless, say the travellers, there
still is talk in Bucharest OF a coup
detat in the event Of the Kings death
that would put the prodigal son on
the throne he once renounced.
Apathy. say those who declare they
know conditions in Rumania, is the
only way to describe the feelings OF
the lower classes and of the general
populace. This very apathy, they say.
would initiate in favor of an energetic
dictator with three or four thousand
determined men at his call should a
coup be attempted.
"All a dictator would have to do"
said one of the travellers VINO oD-
served things carefully during his
stay in the Rumanian capital. would
be to seize the public buildings. the
railway stations and other strategic
points in Bucharest. and, above all.
see that the city was Ieu. LIE pOLeH-
tial Rumanian dictator would need a
minister of railways and transporta-
ton more than regiments
Bratianos Hold Cards.
The best informed classes in Ru-
mania, however. the travellers declare,
doubt whether Caro- would have the
resources to embark on such an enter
prise At present the Bratiano
brothers are holding the highest cards.
those closest in touch with the sltua-
ton declare, and their decision is most
likely to decide the fate of Rumania
and it's Hohenzollern dynasty.
Queen Marie is constantly at the
bedside of King Ferdinand. She has
not made any public appearance In
the city SINCE her return from the
United 81. tes. except an incognito
visit to the rims of the Palace Royal
In Bucharest, which was burned lasts
week 1t is reiterated that she hoped
to become regent in place of Prince
Nicholas, but that so far she has met
with most steady opposition from the
Bratianos, who, for the present at
least, are insisting on exact con
formity with the spirit and letter OF
the decree of January 4. last, depriv-
Ing Carol OF his rights as heir to the
throne and calling for the regency as
now constituted.