Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-22
PACT WITH TURKEY PUTS
I CREECEIN BRIGHTER PATH
Great Modern State Arises After Century
of Strife-Credit to VenizelOs.
Rumania Facing Progress.

Macedonia and the Bulgarians are now
only little fraction Of the total popu-
lation.
within, the gigantic task of reorgan-
ization has been carried forward, the
million and q half Greeks Of Asia Minor
have been settled In the cities and on
the land, with the aid Of foreign loans
obtained through the League Of Ma
tons and administered by Americans
Trade and commerce have recovered
from the paralysis of 10 years Of war
eliminating in defeat and revolution.
The Danish dynasty seems definitely
eliminated from power. Athens, with
its port of the PiraeuS, has become a
great modern city with a. population
rapidly approaching million. Salon.
Xxi, rebuilt since the great fire, has
more than a quarter of a million and
is rapidly repla ting Constantinople in
commercial importance.
Republic Six Years Old.
The Venizelos policy of peace abroad
and progress at home has made enor-
nous progress and the republic has
lasted for six years. True, there remain
Greek aspirations. The hope one day
to recover Northern Epirus and the
Dodecanesus with Rhodes, the dream
Of acquiring Cyprus, with overwhelming
face toward AthenS-these aspirations
endure. But the old dream Of restoring
the Byzantine Empire has disappeared.
Decisions Of grandeur have given place
to appreciation Of the reality, and the
best evidence of this is the recent
Greco Turkish treaty.
Turning from Athens to Bucharest
1t is plain that the return of Carol is
q matter Of domestic import almost
l. IL lee -
the right of ruling which was taken
governed in the name Of his infant son
Michael, so no question Of rival dy-
nasty arises. Moreover. the dominant
Peasants party seems to have favored
the change, while 1t Is natural for the
mass of the people to welcome the idea
of q single ruler instead Of cumber-
some and unromantic junta.
Despite rumors Of an undertaking to
unite Rumania and Hungary, an old,
but purely visionary scheme, 1t is un-
likely that the new King win under
take any ambitious adventure. Mag
var hatred Of Rumania Is too intense
to make combination likely. For the
Hungarian the Rumania Is just as
inferior as the Pole for the German.
And, Of course, In any combination
| the more numerous Rumanians would
be the dominating element.
Unlike Greece, Rumania has a ter
rib1e minority problem. Between the
Dniester and the Pruth IN Bessarabia,
she has upwards of million and q
half Of Ukrainians, counting those of
the Bukovina. as well. North and west
Carol rules over upward Of 1000, o0o
Magyars. while in the same regions
| are more than 500 900 Germans. In
d. - ~foSN
Turks and. along the Danube, Serbs.
Of the nearly 20,000,0 900 people Of the
new greater Rumania, full quarter
are alien. Rather more II the Jews
are included, and they are certainly
an unhappy and protesting minority.
The largest Of the Balkan states, ex.
ceeding Italy In area, Runal1ia Is also
the richest In natural resources. But
at least half the present population
lives on lands acquired in the last two
decades, lands which were Russian,
Hungarian and Bulgarian before that
time Moreover, the populations OF
Austria and Hungary, at least, were in
q more advanced stage OF civilization
and enjoyed better administration.
Huge Reform Accomplished.
One gigantic reform, the breaking UP
Of the great estates, has already been
completed. The near revolution of still
recent times, which led to the over
throw Of the Bratianu regime and tn,
arrival Of peasant domination, has also
given evidence Of change and progress
But Rumania Is always faced by two
deadly pertls: Soviet Russia sullenly
refuses to accept as final the loss Of
the BeSsarabian province, although tn
population Is IN decisive majority Ru.
| manian and Hungary with equal de
termination, looks forward to the recov
cry Of Pennsylvania and the Banat
Nor has Bulgaria ceased to protest
against the seizure OF the Southern
Dobrudja in 1913.
AS against these dangers, Rumanis
counts upon the Little Entente, which
binds JugoSlaYia and Czechoslovakis
to support her against Hungary, anc
upon her Polish ally against Russia
France, too, Is q quasi-guarantor, al.
though Italy has made desperate eff.
forts to replace her neighbor In Ru.
manian friendship.
All RumAnian interests demanC
peace, all Rumanian parties and public
men are agreed In pursuing q policy o.
status quo. ANY policy Of adventure
could throw the whole Balkans anc
even all Europe into q turmoil.
might also produce domestic upheaval
but there Is little to suggest that Caro-
cherishes any such ambitions. For tn,
moment his accession has added a bi
Of uncertainty to the situation. that Il
all; Europe Is, on the whole, NOR
curious than apprehensive.