Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-07-18
Rumania Is Caught
5quare|y Between
Dictators' Ambitions
Signs Seen Thot Grabbing
Is Not Over in Spite
Of Bessorobiu Cession
BY LELAND STOWE.

CHlCe2o Dally news forelen correspondent
BUCHAREST, July 18.-As was
once true of Poland, the Rumanian
people are now caught squarely be-
tween the conflicting ambitions OF
Germany and Russia-with the i'm
portant distinction that the appe-
titles of these two totalitarian giants
have grown enormously since they
partitioned Poland last September.
But Rumania is the largest and
richest remaining morsel that lies
within the reach of both Nazi and
Soviet claws, and although Russian
Dictator Stain acquired about II
per cent Of this country's territory
and population when he seized Bes-
sarabia. there are signs that the
grabbing may not be over. 4
The Kremlin is insisting that
Bucharest turn over a huge guam
tity of rolling stock, reputedly more
than 10000 freight cars and several
hundred engines. to complete the
Bessarabian REIMBURSEMENT" The
recent explosion at an electrical
plant in Galatz, the strategic lower
Danube city close to the new border,
has added to the general uneasiness
of Soviet-Rumanian relations. This
tension has not been lessened by
anti-Semitic outbursts. in which an
unknown number of Jews were
killed in outlying districts since
July 4.
Cruel Dilemma for Carol.
The dilemma which afflicts King
Carol and his government is a cruel
one. Economically. Rumania is at
the mercy of Adolf Hitler's Reich,
but militarily it is at the mercy of
the Soviets-for the immediate fu-
ture at least. Despite the sacrifice
of Bessarabia. it has proved impos-
sible to establish friendly co-opera-
ton with Russia. On the other
hand. and despite the appointment
of the pro-Nazi government of Pre-
mier Ion Gigurti, King Carol has
thus far failed to satisfy Berlin, a
fact which has been UNDERSIGNED by
Hitler's refusal to offer any guar
antees to the present Bucharest
government
Thus Rumania's little dictatorship,
still controlled by the King himself,
is compelled to live day-to-day ex-
istence, threatened by the disfavor
or open animosity of the two great
relationships to the norwest and to
the northeast. Every few days Bu-
charest breeds new rumors that the
remaining three Iron Guard men,
bers of the cabinet have resigned or
are about to do so. Some day this is
bound to happen. Whenever the
Iron Guard representatives quit the
government every one knows their
action will have been approved by
Hitler and the Nazis liberation of
the present stopgap cabinet will
have ended.
Rumania lives in a lull between
storms. If the Nazi war machine
soon strikes against the British
Isles, observers here would not be
surprised to see Soviet divisions
march again-perhaps to take over
the Black Sea littoral of the Dobruja
and to link Russia to Bulgaria. To
many it seems probable that there
would be only one way which might
effectively avoid a further amputa-
ton of Rumania. An outright
alliance with Soviet Russia might
accomplish that, but it would open
the door to Moscow's complete
domination of the country.
Still Hopes to Placate Hitler.
The King Carol dictatorship is still
most reluctant to take such a fatal
step. It seems to nourish desperate
hope, apparently an almost forlorn
hope, of placating Hitler and
cabling Rumania's future inside the
Nazi orbit. But the Red Army now
stands where the first initiatives
are in its hands, especially If the
western war flares up anew.
Those who govern in Bucharest,
beginning with the King, may soon
have to decide whether their i'm
mediate safety and security lies with
the Soviets, however distasteful that
association may be. If it is already
too late for such q choice to be
made, Rumania's smiling country
side may one day become battle
field between Nazi and Soviet armed
forces. In this interlude of false
peace there appears slight prospect
for a peaceful and happy solution
for the Rumanian people. The same
must be said for King Carol himself.
Before September. or perhaps much
earlier, some Of the answer should
be known.