New Britain herald., 1927-07-21
KING FTRDINAND'S DEATH


In no country of Europe is there
more political wire-pulling, intrigue
and control by a small group of de-
termined and alert men as in Ru-
mania. The death of King Ferdinand
removes from the scene a monarch
who held together varying interests
even while i'll, commanding respect
and good will which held in check
many an incipient wave of political
difficulty. His death from cancer
was sufficiently long in coming to
| enable the agreement upon
regency for the next II years, or
until the boy-king Michael reaches
the age of IS. How strong this
regency will be to maintain domestic
accord depends upon the events
which in Rumania are likely to be-
come tangled with political pretend
ers and the opposition centering
around the abdicated Prince Carol.
The reign of King Ferdinand has
been of historic Importance in view
of his ascension to the throne just
after the World War had begun. AL
though a Hohenzollern. he did not
precipitate his country into the con-
flict upon the side of his kin, but
preferred to adopt an attitude Of
watchful waiting. How much this
was due to the influence of his
beautiful queen, Marie, will perhaps
never be known, she having been a
princess royal of Great Britain and
ireland. The ultimate decision to do
battle on the side of the Allies at
least came after due consideration.
The real ruler of Rumania, how
ever, is NJ. Jon Bratiano, who again
is premier With his brother Vintila
he dominates the Rumanian bank |
ing, oil and manufac tures The lat |
tors brother-in-l law, Prince Babu
Stirbey, aforementioned in Ru-
maniGn intrigue, is a sort of fifth
wheel YH the government. Rumania
is a land of large estates and many
peasants, and a species of feudalism
still maintains. Fourteen months
ago, when a tide of public indigna-
ton swept the land, NJ. Jon Bratiano /
resigned the premiership, merely |
waiting, however, until again called
to the headship Of the cabinet after
popular indignation had died down.
This recall came only a few weeks !
ago, when the king from his sickbed !
requested General Averescu to re-
sign the premiership-an unusual
step for a constitutional monarch
and probably dictated by the Bra
tianos. General Averescu in the first
place had been a henchman of the
Bratianos. 1t appears to make no
difference who rules in Rumania;
the Bratianos are the powers be-
hind the supposed rulers.
When the king called Prince Babu |
Stirbey to the premiership it was the
display Of an extraordinary humility
OF spirit in view of the claims of
the Prince Carolites, the so-called |
political opposition in Rumania, who
pasted very onerous posters |
throughout Bucharest and failed of !
punishment. How the comic opera |
works was then once more clearly |
shown. Prince Babu Stirbey quickly |
dissolved parliament and resigned /
being succeeded by Jon Bratiano as
premier. Thus the cycle was COM
pleted. \ cabinet was chosen which
was guaranteed to be subservient
and to make things alright. Jon
Rratiano also named himself for
eign minister and gave the import
ant portfolio of finance minister to
his brother, Nintila. Then elections
We're ordered held to choose new
members of the Chamber of
Deputies; but it is notorious in Ru-
mania that the party which con-
ducts an election always wins. Ugly
stories appeared in the public
prints at the time-but not in Ru-
mania, where such things are care
fully and eXpcditiously suppressed.
1t was Jon Bratiano who said: Il
try to put off until tomorrow the
mistakes which people tell me I
ought to make today" He and his
brother are the sons of the greater
Jon G.. EratIano who freed Rumana
from Turkey. They at least are sons
Of an illustrious sire.