Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
RUMAN|ANS COOL
TO ROYAL FAMILY
Nicholas Is DiSliked and
Queen Marie Receives No
Homage From People.
BY LINDSAY HOBEN.


BUCHAREST. Rumania. February %.
s-The royal family is not popular in
Rumania. Dynastic prestige has waned
greatly and IN the last few months has
suffered severe setbacks.
This does not mean that the country
is restless, except as it always is with
local politics. It does not even mean,
In all probability, that the dynasty is
jeopardized. But it does mean that
the royal family is ever less importan;
to Rumania.
know of no other monarchy where
the press dareS speak of and to its roy
atty as " ,ioes here. Little King Mi
chael is out of the picture. He doesn't
count yet. The three figures on the
royal scene are Queen Marie, her son
Nicholas and the eXiled son, Carol.
Carol has more hold on the people than
the others. There is no actual enthu-
siasm for him. but should he return
and be backed by a few soldiers ne
could probably be King
Nicholas Strongly Disliked.
1t is Nicholas who is strongly dis
liked. He is one of the three regents.
He is notorious for reckless driving, and
several times has injured persons. The
last occurrence, October 26, caused an
outburst of cauStic comment and a
wave of sentiment for the blameless
taxi driver who was beaten and kicked
by the prince. Adeverul the day fol-
lowing wrote thus sarcastically:
yesterday while the prince regent,
Nicholas, was passing through Camelei
street he suffered a little accident fol-
lowed by an incident with the driver of
a taxi The accident was not serious.
only the mudguard Of the princes car
being hit.
The incident became graver, how
ever The driver, apparently without
cause. fell to the ground in order that
the noble feet might caress him. After
that the driver, Ion Damian-that is
the name of the happy man who re-
ceived the princely caresses-was taken
to the first-aid station.
IF this had been the first accident
of such a nature of Prince Nicholas
we might have said that Mr.. MiloZi Ia
Bucharest police official recently con-
victed of beating up suspects most vi
ciously1 was Just practicing, but We
know of several other deeds of the most
noble regency's triumvirate, so We are
compelled to state that Mr.. MiloN Is
but a modest disciple"
All papers have commented and
printed the story-some with and some
without names In Cuvantul, which sup
general the taxidriver's story was given
few days later. He was an illiterate
20-year- youth. After the accident
he said, Il got out. He (the prince hit
me on the back and told me to free his
mudguard from the bumper I bent
down and did it. When I got up he
kicked me again and then was taken
to the doctors in the ambulance"
Bitter comments were made when
lawyers, because of fear, refused to de-
fend a contributor to Viasta Politika
who wrote a sarcastic letter to the
prince, telling him taxi drivers ought
TO be run into and beaten up. The
writer was convicted of lese majestic
and sentenced Cthe court gave him the
minimum to four months in prison
and 5,000-lei fine.
Rebuff for Queen Marie.
But this mess came only few days
after the Queen had tried to become a
regent and had been rebuffed by the
able national-peasant party leader,
Juliu Manu-. Her defeat was a great
loss of prestige. One of the three re-
gents (for minor King MichaeD, Buzz
dugan by name. had died, Queen Marie
who, since the death Of her husband,
has had no actual power, sought the
vacancy. But the prime minister told
her two members of the royal family
could not be tolerated in the regency
and to the surprise of every one he
announced that Parliament would
choose the third regent. It picked a
civilian, Constantine Sarateseanu.
The Queen was mortified Manu-
hau told her that II she wished to be
regent she could take the place of her
son, Nicolas, who could resign. The
angered Queen called this amazing pro-
poSal slight to the dignity Of the royal
family and issued the following state
ment:
1T is inadmissable to even think Of
replacing my son Nicolas. still more
that the substitution be made an object
Of bargaining. We the royal family
cannot conceive what it means to strive
for honors or privileges. We do not
need one or the other. We are where
We are to our duty and that is all
If a government reckons that it
means danger to have the royal family
predominant in the regency, that can
4Spires to dominate the regency. If
that is so 1t has only to say so clearly
InaSmuch as / am concerned, ] keep
this point Of view, that 1t is not possible
nor well for the country that. besides
the royal family. other families may
step up, assuming the aspect of the
second dynasty.
Would Have Strengthened Regency.
ct do not doubt that had my son and
myself been together in the regency
we would have strengthened it and
given 1t increased prestige I do
not consider that my entering the re-
gensy would have been a concession on
the part Of any body-only on my own
have sacrificed liberty, spiritual quiet
ness and tranquility in private life to
be beside my child. who still needs me,
as he is involved in a life of labor and
serious conflicts and intrigueS
THE Nicolas situation has been hard
enough, because, no matter what their
good will may be, those who do not be-
long to a monarchy cannot assume the |
which is an integral part !
are no advantages and benefits, and we
do not want any other privileges than
the royal prerogatives.
Nicolas and I could never work
against one another, but both for the
crown. We could make any sacrifice. !
But I would never be anybody's tool
nor accept any position which was not |
At the height Of my career at the end
of my life. am here solely for the !
good Of my people. But if political men
believe that 1 can be changed by q !
gesture or promise or a threat, they
are mistaken
IF the Almighty allows me to be in |
this world when the young king
(Michael is to take the throne when he
Is 49, ascends the throne, then 1 can
rest quietly, because my son will be be-
side the 1S-year-old youth, whom he
can help. advise and support No. no,
never! No bargaining with Queen
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