Evening star., 1939-04-22
Security Uncertoin, Rumonio
Reported Replying to Germany;
Others Negative or Evosive
Fuehrer Preparing
Bosis for Answer
To Roosevelt
BACKGROUND

bAChGROUNU-
Amid fears that neU conflict
1Das to break in Europe, President
Roosevelt last Saturday sent
messages to Chancellor Hitler
and Premier Mussolini, proposing
a pledge by them not to attack
81 countries 1Uithin the nert 10
years. Mussolini rejected the idea
as absurd" Hitler sent out cir
culdr queries to many of the
countries named in the message,
asking ,Dhether they felt them
selues n1enaced by Germany and
1Dhether they kneU of Mr.. Roose-
Uelt's message in adpdnce.
Rumania has told Germany, in
response to queries whether she
feels herself menaced from the Nazi
state, that "she does not see how
any one could feel secure in Europe
at the present time" it was re-
nably reported in London by the
Associated Press.
Rumania's response to the Ger
man canvass of a number OF Euro
pean countries, as to whether they
believed Germany threatens them
and whether they knew in advance
of or inspired President Roosevelt's
peace messages of last Saturday,
came amid replies from other coun-
tries which were either evaSive or
definitely negative.
Associated Press dispatches from
Switzerland, Lithuania, Finland, Bel
gium and the Netherlands revealed
that these countries either were side
stepping a direct reply as to whether
they feared German attack or were
answering IN the negative.
Chancellor Hitler was expected to
use the replies prominently in his
answer Friday to Mr.. Roosevelt's
peace message which asked the
Fuehrer and Premier Mussolini If
they were willing to give assurances
that their armies would not attack
or invade 81 countries.
Britain Is Informed.
Rumania's first move after reply
ing to the German QUESTIONABLE
was to pass along her answer to the
British foreign Office, 1t was said in
London.
Until word of the Rumanian reply
was received it was not believed
Germany had addressed her note to
any of Britain's new Eastern Euro
pean allies-Poland, Greece and Ru-
mania
In Warsaw, the foreign Office said
Poland had received no question
naire and the belief was expressed
in well-informed political quarters
that the Berlin authorities had left
out the three nations whose inde-
pendence Britain and France have
promised to help defend.
An informed source in Londn, al
though declining to disclose the text
Of the Rumanian reply, said II think
we can guarantee that Rumania's
answer will be the most amusing of
the lot" He said it startled" Ger
man officials in Bucharest.
The Rumanian action intensified
interest in the visit Gigore Gafencu,
Rumanian foreign minister, is ex-
pected to make in London next week.
Switzerland Replies.
The Swiss government made the
following replies to the German
questions:
The Federal Council (of Switz-
erlan6 had no knowledge of Pres
ident Roosevelt's intention to ad-
dress q message of peace to the
German and italian governments.
THE Federal Council has con-
fldence in respect for Swiss neu-
trality, which the confederation will
defend with its army and which
Germany as well as its (Switzer-
land'O other neighbors have ex-
pressly recognized"
The Swiss governments answer
appeared to have been framed so
as to be of as little help as possible
to Hitler.
The Lithuanian government was
reliably reported to have referred
the German government to Lithu-
anian- treaty of March %.
In that treaty Germany pledged
herself not to resort to or support
force against Lithuania.
Under Article w of the treaty,
which followed Germanys occppa-
(See BERLIN, Page A-7)