THE IRON GUARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 134, 18 March 1940, Page 5

THE IRON GUARD.

REINSTATED IN RUMANIA.

COMPLETE’AMNESTY GRANTED. LQNDON, March 16. The Bucharest correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the Iron Guard, the outlawed Nazi organisation, has been revived. A -communique announced that the Prime Minister (M. Tatarescu) has received a delegation of members of tho guard who declared their allegiance to King Carol. Members of the guard who wore in refuge in Germany and other countries are streaming to Rumania and are all included in an amnesty, those expelled from public service being reinstated with honour. Damages and pensions will be paid to the widows of executed members of the guard, including the murderers of tho former Prime Minister (M. Calinescu), only six moirths ago. Their remains will be exhumed for ceremonial burial in consecrated ground. The official news agency says that the rehabilitation of the Iron Guard is a measure for internal appeasement and not a political compromise, and that it will not affect Rumania’s domestic or foreign policy. An Iron Guard manifesto uses the phrase: “The guard will continue as in tho past to make personal sacrifices to conquer the enemy rvithin and without.” .

The Government which stoutly denied that negotiations were proceeding with members of tho guard, now declares that the guard submitted to the Government, hut there is no question of a member of the guard joining the Cabinet or of M. Gafcncu resigning. Germany is reported to have offered Rumania frontier guarantees from Russia and Hungary on the following terms —Rumanian demobilisation, the installation of German exports in Rumanian industry and agriculture, virtual monopoly of Rumanian oil and cereals exports, and the" appointment of a member of the guard to the Cabinet. Official circles told the Associated Press of England that King Carol and Cabinet had -considered tho. offer, but King Carol was adamant in Ins refusal of tho offer., principally because of the demand for. a member of the guard as a member of the Cabinet.