Evening star., 1926-04-17
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

"Rumania is a window Of Europe,
and as Intermediary between the Slav
and the Westerner will play a pre-
ponderating role in the Europe Of to-
morrow. II only we prevent the Boil
shevists from obtaining a preponder-
ance in the Black Sea and secure the
liberty of navigation on the Danube
that was guaranteed by the treaty OF
Lausanne"
Thus spake Jean Bratiano, who,
when he spoke, was premier Of Ru-
mania. Last week his four-year term
expired, and. according to the con-
stitution he was obliged to retire. In
the four yearS-or rather in the last
four rnonths-his country has almost
reached a crisis. which is construed
by many as endangering the dynasty
and threatening q revolution which
would end either in q dictatorship or a
republic. This Is an unofficial view.
The window" appears closely cur
tanned against outside prytng, though
there are Observers processing to un-
derstand much behind the curtain.
What was back Of the recent abdi-
cation Of Prince Carol, when he re-
signed all rights to succeed to the
throne upon the death of his father.
King Ferdinand? Was that abdica-
ton an explosion Of temper or was
1t n sincere determination to revolt
against the Bratiano government.
and, If so. what is his present attitude.
since Bratiano is no longer in power!
A close personal friend of the
prince, and one in official position TO
know. assures the world that Prince
Carol has no desire to be involved in
Rumanian politics. and prefers TO live
his own life as a gentleman or inde-
pendent means and Of high scholastic
attainments. He gives assurance that
Carol has no intention to recall his
abdication, and that the report that
Carol had already started toward the
Rumanian border with the view to
demand q restoration or his royal
rights is a canard.
y = =
The Bratiano adherents point to the
fact that, following Carols abdica-
ton. a law was adopted accepting the
resignation and naming Carols 4-year-
old son as Crown Prince. with a
regency, consisting Of Prince Nicholas
(the second son of King Ferdinand
and Queen Marie), together with the
chief justice and the prelate. The
regency has no legal power to sur
render the claims of the 4-year-oh
Crown Prince, and the infant himself
cannot resign, hence there exists no
constitutional power to reconsider
Carols abdication, even if the King
and all concerned so desired.
Prince Nicholas Is % years old, and
Is the best dancer of the Charleston
in Rumania, but is not known to have
any serious qualifications for the
regency. The other two members are
in their Offices for life and cannot be
reached even by the King. The only
possibility then for Carol ever TO re-
cover the successorship to the throne
would be through forcible revolution.
There is much conjecture as to
how far Bratiano has really retired
from control of the government. His
successor, Gen. Averescu, Is a leader
in war, but with no prestige in peace.
He is not statesman, and although
he was a member Of Parliament, his
following there was so small that he
was negligible as q legislative in
fiuence. Ills selection by the King to
become. premier came as a great sur.
prise, not only to Rumania but es-
pecially to outsiders, and many are
asking If Averescu is really not a
mere blind for Bratiano. who Will
either rule under cover or will soon
return to office when Averescu will
be forced to withdraw.
The very obscurity of Averescu in
statecraft inspires the suspicion that
IL the curtain could be raised the
"vindow' would be interesting. Brati-
ano is a man of wealth. and belongs
to a. family of national influence
through generations. The develop
ments in the politics of the nation.
according to some observers. demand
that Bratiano retire from the spot.
light at present.
X X X X
Rumania is indeed in a strategic
position between the Soviets of Rus