Evening star., 1939-11-30
Rumanian Fears Grow
As Russian Troops
Strike Into Finland
Move for Bessurubiu in
Background; Hungarian
Agitation Scored
By RICHARD MOWRER,


Chicago Daily News Foreisn Correspondent.
BUCHAREST, Nov. 30.-Rumania,
no less than the rest of the world,
is watching developments in Fin
land with breathless anticipation, as
the Soviets have raised the mailed
fist to strike down the defiant Firms
For. if Finland goes the way of
Poland, it is not improbable that
Rumania will be next on Dictator
Josef v. Stalin's blacklist.
Ever since the Russians entered
Poland there has been some un-
easiness about Bessarabia, which the
Russians never recognized as right
fully belonging to Rumania. The
fact that nothing has happened in
Bessarabia, and that the Soviets
have not even mentioned it, has not
lessened apprehension here 1t has
merely increased the impression that
the Soviets are not bothering about
Bessarabla simply because they are
after bigger game.
Neutrality Remains Policy.
So Rumania, too close to Russia to
dare to give even moral support to
the Firms, is most interested spec
tator of the drama in the North.
For Rumania, though separated
from Finland by hundreds of miles,
is crossed BY the same 25th meridian
east of Greenwich, going through
Finland and Poland, which seems
to have such an irresistible appeal
for the Soviets. And if the Russians
want to better their position in the
Black Sea, as they are doing in the
Baltic, it will have to be at some
body's expense.
Rumanian Foreign Minister Girl
gore Gafencu meanwhile, in a
speech last night, defined the for
eign policy of the new Tatarescu
government. He reiterated Premier
George Tatarescu's emphasis on
Rumanian neutrality in the present
disorder of things.
Reviewing the country's foreign
policy, Gafencu took occasion to re-
call Rumania's pleasure at the ad-
hesion of Soviet Russia, 10 years
ago, to the Briand-Kellogg peace
pact. He went further, expressing
the conviction that the policy of
peace confirmed by the U. S. S. r.
and the policy of security pursued
by Rumania" are harmonizable.
'As regards our eastern neigh
bors. we believe that wherever our
destinies meet, whether on the
Dniester or the Black Sea, they do
not conflict" he said.
Takes Crack at Hungary.
Analizing relations with Hungary,
Gafencu took a crack at Hungarian
Foreign Minister Count Stephen
Csaky's recent reference to Hun
garian claims on Rumanian by re-
ferring to the ancient semi-feudal
position of large land ownership
which still prevails in Hungary
remark which may or may not be
interpreted as reminding Hungary
OF her proximity to the Soviets
along the former Polish frontier.
Gafencu pointed out that Hun
gary ought not to make claims on
minority questions, as the former
Austro-Hungarian Empire largely
consisted of minorities in the first
place, and he added, Most of the
minorities are attached to land in
this country which also belongs to
them, as it never did in the past
tunder the Austro-H Hungarian re-
glme) and as it would not belong
to them if any of the neighboring
countries"
On two occasions, in the course
Of his speech, Gafencu referred to
the Rumanian Army as guarding
Rumanlan frontiers. Like other
states in Southeastern Europe, Ru-
mania is keen on neutrality. The
new Tatarescu government is care
fully balanced between ro-German
and pro-allied elements. The recent
concession to a policy of neutral
ity has been in favor of Russia.
The sale of Soviet newspapers and
the showing of films is now permit
ted in Rumania.
tCopyright, 1889, by Chicago Daily News