Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-14

tacit support of the powerful peasant
party well night amounted to assurance
Of success.
There remained but one other factor
to be sure of, and that was the army.
And among the generals and other high
officials OF the RumaTliar~ army, Carol
already was King. Accordingly the
"house Of cards" so assidiously built up
against Carols return stood as a struc-
ture only so long as no breeze blew
against it. Solely the breeze from the
wings of the Farman airplane carrying
the eX-Crown Prince back into his
native land Sufficed to topple the
regency's Dashboard edifice. The Ru-
manian people most wanted normalcy
and normal regime. The answer to
both these wants was Carol in person
and Carol as King.
Willing to Overlook the Past.
often have been asked, What do
the Rumanian people think of Carols
return?" The above paragraphs are
key to the response. AS far as Carol
personally is concerned, they are happy
to have him on the throne. Not only
are they willing to overlook the past,
but very largely they have done so
already. They feel that the royal dy-
nasty has been solidif1ed. That the
AOSASdl law VI uueCC Succession mas
been justified. That the passage of
Rumania's crown from Carol II to his
son Michael has been assured. Be-
yond that they feel that Rumania's
pressing economic and financial prob
lens now have higher hope of satisfac-
tory solution than at any time since
Ferdinand's death. In a sense one
might say that Carols restoration has
caused a rebirth of national conscious
ness in Rumania. Signs are apparent,
even this early, of growing confidence
which surely has not existed in the
immediate past.
These things are all potent assets to
the new King. Beside them should be
listed another great asset which Carol
poSSeSseS-the asset of mature Vigor, of
man In his prime. One Rumanian
leader said to me: THE King is young
and he wants young government.
His speech in accepting the throne was
young voice. but a young voice which
knows its own mind. Rumania for a
long time has needed a young voice of
Ieaoersnlp. l believe our new King has
that voice."
Carols Experience Broad.
This might be remarked as one OF
the intangibles which motivates in
Carols favor as he commences his
reign, and it can hardly be overlooked.
Still another interesting factor is to
be found in the scales of public onin-
lon favorable to Carol. It is the fact
that his experience has been broad
and varied. Looked upon for five years
as playboy prince, as youth who
persisted in sowing his wild oats, it
might be expected that Carol newly
mounted to the throne, would be viewed
askance as it is quite certain he would
be IN some countries. But there is a
decided inclination in Rumania to look
upon the happier side of things. In
Carols case it is found in the convic-
ton that the Grant prince has learned
much during his exile.
Citizens OF Bucharest remark that
Carol has had a wider experience than
most princes. That he has been thrown
INTO contact with all sorts of people:
that he has Travelled much about En-.
rope; That, OF necessity his views must
be broader, his political mind more in
ternational in flavor than it would
nave been had he lived almost ex-
clusively in Rumania.
The Rumanian people take pride In
Ieellng themselves an important unit
In the European scheme of things
Ihey realize that their relations with
Hungary, CZechoslovakia, Jugoslayia
and Bulgaria are significant for all of
Europe. They have no faith in isola-
ton. On the contrary. I think it is
safe to say the sane leaders of Ramania
are agreed upon the necessity of eco
nomic and political cooperation with
the rest of Europe.
Asks Cooperation With Hungary.
In his first utterances to the press
carol II took great pains to express
these identical views. He declared him
self favorable to peaceful cooperation
with all Rumania's neighhors. OF Hum
gary ne said: With Hungary we have
a particular point Of contact the prob
lem OF agricultural production. Both
countries are essentially agricultural.
believe we can very easily Join hands
for the defense Of our agrarian inter-
ests"
There is in this, as in many other
utterances of the new King, the indica-
ton OF ruler whose views 20 beyond
the borders OF Rumania, of a mind
which has the European touch.
Inc circumstances of Carols leturn
are more suspicious than the casual
foreign observer may have been inclined
to believe. Carols bloodless coup
detat was completed, as he himself
most desired 1t to eliminate, without
blow being struck or a hand being
raised. The house Of cards. of The dod-
dering regency clattered because its
framework was superficial. The reign
OF Carol II marks the beginning of
WnaI promises to be a new regime of
normalcy IN Rumania, but with This
it must be remembered that the King
faces most difficult problems, which are
stu unsettled and of f1rst Importance
for his future.