Evening star., 1940-11-23
Rumania Signs
Axis Alliance
In Berlin
Gen. Antonescu Sees
Victory for Reich
And ItoIy
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER.
Associated Press war correspondent.

foe of Germany in the World War
two decades ago. Joined the Nazi-
sponsored axis alliance today.
With this diplomatic stroke,
Reichsfuehrer Hitler formally
pushed the axis sphere deep into
the Balkans to a point less than $50
miles from the vital Dardanelles.
Rumania's premier, Gen. Ion An
tonescu, accompanying his action
with fiowery language, signed the
pact which already linked Germany,
Italy. Japan and Hungary.
The tenor of Gen. Antonescu's
remarks was that the axis powers
have victory over Britain in their
grasp and that Rumania, in joining
up, is helping to construct new
order He said Rumania joined the
axis inwardly long ago.
Contrary to expectation, Hitler
was not present at the ceremony
formally affiliating the Balkan
nation with the original 10-year
military and economic three-power
pact signed by Germany, Italy and
Japan September 81.
Nazi Foreign Minister Joachim
Won Ribbentrop, in a brief address
on behalf of the original three
powers, congratulated Rumania and
her leader.
I'VE are convinced" he asserted,
that today further step toward
final victory of our good and Just
cause has been taken"
He expressed joy that two nations
of Southeastern Europe-Hungary.
which joined four days ago, and
Rumania--were the first to adhere
to the pact because in his opinion
these states, as no others. were
victims of political interests nom
indigenous to this area" He OBJ
viously meant Britain and France.
Gen. Antonescu stressed that Ru-
mania's joining with the alliance Is
fundamental act of new orienta-
llOtl VI NIlC obdbC Ia
other words, Rumania may now be
expected to break more than ever
with the past associated with the
name of the abdicated King Carol.
Already in Rumania are German
troops in unannounced numbers.
sent there, officials have said. to'
protect the kingdona's il-producing
fields from "British sabotage" and
to train the Rumanian Army.
Bulgaria and Slovakia were ex.
pected in diplomatic quarters to
be the next nations in Southeastern
Europe to affiliate with the bloc OF
axis-dominated powers.
AS the Rumanian-axis bonds were
sealed in the grand reception room
of the chancellery. the Hungarian
Minister. Dome Sztojay, sat unsmil-
ing at an end of the table opposite
the Runanians.
Their nations, while now bound
in the same pact of alliance, have
borne each other no great friend.
ship, especially since Hungarys
recent enlargement by acquisition
of Transatlantic from Rumania.
Sztojay made no effort to con-
graduate his new Balkan colleagues.
At the extreme right of the table
was Rumanian Foreign Minister
Prince Costin SturZa attired IN the
green smock of the Iron Guard, and
next to him sat Gen. Antonescu, red
faced and grim of countenance,
wearing a khaki uniform. Rlbben-
trop, in a gray uniform, presided.
The official announcement said
Won Ribbentrop, Gino Butt, director
of the political department OF the
Italian Foreign Office. and japanese
Ambassador to Berlin Saburo Ku-
rusu. on one side, and Premier-Gen.
Antonescu on the other, signed the
protocol sealing Rumania's entrance
into the pact.
Will Be Consulted.
The protocol merely stated that
Rumania had become party to
the alliance, effective Immediately.
and-like Hungary-would be con-
suited on matters concerning her.
After the signing. in the same spa
cious chancellery where the orig
inal three-power pact was con-
cluded, Gen. Antonescu, who rose
to power after the abdication OF
King Carol II last September. de-
clared the step was taken IN the
interests of peace.
"An effective tool for the reor-
ganization of Europe and the world
has been created by the three-power
pact" he asserted.
The Premier said efforts of the
past two decades 20 secure dur
able peace" failed because they were
founded on empty rhetoric Of con-
ferences, ideoiogies which were un.
der the domination of reprehensible
interests of destructive forces
This new order of Europe and
the world must destroy all fiction
and annihilate all occult forces on
which the construction Of yesterday
rested and which unloosed the pres
ent war;" he continued.
The signing, Gen. Antonescu de-
clared, represented IAN honest actual
contribution of the Rumanian peo-
pie for the reconstruction OF Eu-
rope and the world as well as for
defense of the present day civiliza-
ton which will be rendered secure
by the victory of states united In the
three-power pact"
SIovakia to Sign Tomorrow.
Premier Bella Tuka Of Slovakia Is
coming to Berlin to sign for his
country tomorrow as the sixth mem-
ber of the alliance, it was learned
tonight.
Bulgarian officials are expected
to come to Berlin later for con-
ferences.
(Although Soviet Russia was
reported in Sofia to have advised
Bulgaria to steer clear of out
right membership in the alliance,
most observers there believe the
little kingdom will become full
partner.
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