RUMANIA AND THE BANAT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 220, 16 September 1919, Page 5

RUMANIA AND THE BANAT.

BKATIANO'S RESIGNATION. ■ I WAY TOE SETTT/FTVENT. PARIS, September 15. | ; The Rumanian Minister learns from I Bucharest that the resignation of 11. 1 Bratiano (Rumanian Prime Minister) I was due to his belief that Rumania's I interests are endangered through the I.Allies' request to Rumania to relinquish undivided possession of the Banat of I Temesvar, and to share it with the I Magyars ana Serbians. It is stated that IM. i'.ratiaWs successor will be better I enabled to submit a conciliatory formula to the Allies, safeguarding Rumania's interests, as lie will not be pledged in the same manner as M. Bratiano regardinir the future of the Banat. j It is confirmed that the Serbian Cabi- : net has resided because it failed to obtain either suppression or the modification of the clauses in the Austrian Peace Treaty dealing with the protection of minorities in territories ceded to Serbia. These clauses are regarded as infringing j Serbian sovereignty. The Government will retain power during the crisis.— (A. |and X.Z. Cable.) ' M. Bratiano wa* Premier of Rumania i for some years before the war. and he 1 held office* until the country was overj run by the Germans, when he was disj placed by General Coanda, to return to - office after the -break-up of Oermany. He was a friend to the Allies from the outbreak of the war. out was not at ' first in favour of a policy of active inter- ; vention. He has been called the cleverest in Europe, while his policy of keeping his intentions to himself lias : earned him the name of the Rumanian sphinx. He was born in the purple, being the son of a famous Prime Minister, and he had only to stretch out his hand to take the sceptre of power. : Wealthy and imperious, he has practically been the autocrat of hi.s country though his despotism has been entirely ■benevolent. Xow apparently lie finds himself so deeply committed to the l J'Npansirnist movement in the Banat. oi ; Temesvar that lie lias to make way for ' someone who ran make concessions in ; thi- direction without stultifying himself. The eastern section of the Banai lls 7.1 per cent Rumanian, but the i demands of the kingdom have extended i beyond the area they can rightly claiir jas racially at one with themselves.