Evening star., 1940-02-21
Will Not Favor Germany,
Allies Reported Told

LONDON, Feb. 81 R.-The tug
Qf-war between the allies and Ger
many over Rumanian oil for the
machines of war has been resolved
to the satisfaction of Great Britain
and France, an informed source in
dicated today.
Allied satisfaction was said to
spring from assurance that Rumania
would not discriminate in favor of
Germany in supplying this vital war
commodity.
1t was reported that Rumania told
Britain she would allot Germany
1.56O.000 tons of oil this year, but
that transportation difficulties prob
ably would hamper delivery, just as
they prevented delivery of some of
the 100000 tons assigned to Ger
many in 1899.
Rumania Answers Britain.
Viorel Virgil Tilea, Rumanian
minister to London, handed to For
eign Secretary Lord Halifax yester-
day the Rumanian reply to Britain S
expression Of concern over the new
Rumanian oil control board, which
bosses production, including that of
British and French-owned prop
critics.
The note was not made public,
but authoritative sources said a
mutually satisfactory discussion was
held and gave the impression the
reply removed fears that Germany
might be favored.
Some newspapers jubilantly an
nounced that the effect of the Ru-
manian regulations would be a de-
crease in the amount of oil sent to
Germany. but Reuters, British news
agency, said that such interpreta-
tions were "a trifle premature" and
that "the governments estimate of
the new position has not yet been
defined"
Salve for British.
Establishment of the Control
Board had raised such doubts in
London that officials reconsidered
the whole question of British and
Rumanian trade, giving rise to pub
lshed assertions that Britain secret
ly had stopped all exports to Ru-
mania pending satisfactory settle
ment. The reports of q halt in ex-
ports to Rumania, however, never
were confirmed officially.
Salve for the British was a report
from Bucharest that Rumania would
export only crude oil and no finished
aviation gasoline. Britain author
tiles explained this would put a
further strain on German transport.
Since the war started, Rumania
has been the pivot of conflicting
interests and hence the hkenest the
ater of action in any extension of
the war into the Balkans.
Turks Warn Germany.
Rumania's ticklish position has
been stressed further by concentra-
tions pf allied troops in the Near
East, by Turkeys own military
preparations and press declaration
that Turks themselves would march
into the Balkans the moment any
other power did So
Turkey will enter the war the day
a foreign power marches into the
Balkans" said the newspaper Yeni
Sabah of Istanbul yesterday.
"' If Germany attacks the
Balkans, she will find us facing her
on the side of the allies, because
such aggression would directly
menace us.
TO reach Istanbul, it is necessary
to cross the Balkans. Our country
+ will not await her turn with folded
arms while the Balkans are crushed.
That Is one mistake we shall not
make"
The decree presumably applies
only to refined lubricating oils for
aircraft.
The decree was said to be the
latest OF Rumanias desperate at
tempts to keep the balance between
Germany's demands for fuel and
lubricants for her war machine and
the allies counter demands. 1t was
believed to be the result of Britain's
recent note asking an explanation of
"Rumania's petroleum policy toward
:. Germany.
Both Britain and France con-
sistently have pointed out in Bu-
scharest that they might be COM
4spelled to reconsider their guaran-
stess Of Rumania's independence If
King Carols government favored
4the Nazis in oil policy.
: It also was reported today that
sRumanian promises not to favor
Germany have resulted in resump-
etion of British shipments of arms
sand ore to this country. Nearly
sall exports from the allies to Ru-
mania dwindled to a trickle when
bucharest promised last month to
ship 80 per cent of her annual oil