RUMANIAN PROVINCES TO SOVIET

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 153, 29 June 1940, Page 8

RUMANIAN PROVINCES TO SOVIET

COUP BY STALIN.

BESSARABIA CEDED.

FUTURE OF BUKOVINA

FORMER RUSSIAN CONTROL

FOOD-PRODUCING AREAS.

Rumania's suzerainty of 22 years over Bessarabia and Bukovina' has come to an end with the ceding to Russia of these war-tossed northern provinces. Since Bessarabia proclaimed its independence as a Moldavian democratic republic after the Russian revolution, agreeing to unconditional incorporation with Rumania, Russia has continued consistently to regard the country as "occupied territory." However, former Russian control of Bukovina goes back to 1769 and it has since been under Austrian and Turkish rule. Bessarabia extends from Poland on the north to the Black Sea, and lies betweeen the Pruth and Dniester Rivers. The latter divides it from the Ukrainian and Moldavian autonomous republics of the Russian Federation, while the former separates it from the Rumanian province of Moldavia. Its population is over 3,000,000, with Moldavians and Ukrainians in the majority. The history of Bessarabia goes back to the early Christian era, when it was already a bulwark of Christian Europe against the barbarians. Later, fortified towns were built and maintained under alternating princes and Turkish suzerains until, in 1812, Russia, in pursuance of the policy initiated by Catherine IL of extending Russian territory eastward at the expense of the Turkish Empire, and to obtain,command of the mouth of the Danube, annexed the province now known as Bessarabia, and, under the Treaty of Bucharest, left the Turks in possession of that portion of the principality of Moldavia to the west of the Pruth. Century Under Russia. For over a century Bessarabia continued under Russian domination, becoming slowly Russianised and more or less satisfied with its lot. With the falling of the Imperial regime the Bessarabia ns declared for autonomy. Fearing, however, that the wave of terrorism following the collapse of the Russian army in the field would swamp the province, appeal was made to Rumania for military assistance in guarding the railways and keeping order. This was forthcoming conditional upon eventual union with Rumania, and the initial step to this end was taken in January, 1918, although the Powers did not recognise the union until 1920. Agriculture is the main occupation of Bessarabia, with maize and wheat as the chief grain crops. Fruit growing is widespread and, except in the north, there are numerous vineyards. Tobacco, barley, flax, watermelons, saffron and madder are grown. In the steppe pasture lands sheep, cattle, horses; goats, pigs and buffaloes ere reared, though the numbers have decreased since 1915. Wool and woollen clothing are exported, and there are small- manufactures of leather, soap and iron goods. Marble is quarried and salt and saltpetre worked. The economic life of Bessarabia was considerably disturbed by the 1914-21 war conditions, and by the continued severance of trade relations with Russia. Administrative changes meant radical alterations in the life of the people and the adoption of new currency. Prefects and sub-prefects were appointed from Bucharest. Large estates were expropriated and communications were made worse partly because the railways were of a different gauge from those in the rest of Rumania, and partly because they did not link with Rumanian ports. Furthermore, the Dniester was no longer available for trade. Progressive Austrian Rule. Bukovina is situated at the junction of the Polish, Czechoslovak and Rumanian frontiers at the northernmost point of Rumania and, as it also adjoins Bessarabia, it is near the Russian frontier. Until 1918 it was a crown land of Austria, which it had become in 1849. Originally it had been a principality of Moldavia under Turkish control. It was occupied by Russia in 1769, and |by Austria in 1774, to whom it was finally ceded by Turkey in 1777. This little country, with its population of 900,000, is inhabited mainly by Rumanians and by minorities of Poles and Germans. Its capital, Czernowitz (Cernauti) lies upon the main railway line that joins Bucharest with Lemberg. It was under the rule of Austria that many Germans were settled in Bukovina, and the province made great progress, being considered a model for the rest of Austria for the harmony which reigned among the different nationalities. On the collapse of the AustroHungarian monarchy, the last Governor handed over the province to the Ruthcnes, in October, 191 S. Four days later, representatives of the Rumanians met at Cernowitz and proclaimed a Constituent Assembly, which voted the union of the province within its historic boundaries with Rumania. The Assembly then appealed to the Rumanian Government for troops, which entered Cernowitz on November 11, 1918.