RUMANIAN OBJECTIONS HEARD

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24954, 15 August 1946, Page 5

RUMANIAN OBJECTIONS HEARD

The Rumanian Foreign Minister (Mr Tatarescu) ranged himself behind Russian objections to the Western Powers’ proposals for the Rumanian peace treaty when he stated his wintry’s case before the Paris Conference. He said that Russia’s claim for £75,000.000 in reparations was moderate. but he opposed the Western Allies’ economic demands, including

the expropriation of Rumanian credits owed to Germany. He asked that Rumania herself should have reparations from Germany and Hungary. Mr Tatarescu agreed to the territorial clauses of the draft Rumanian treaty, whereby Rumania would renounce her claims to Bessarabia and the southern Dobrudja, but would have northern Transylvania restored to her.

He regretted the absence in the treaty of any confirmation of Rumania’s status as a co-belligerent and protested against the restriction on the armed forces. He asked the Conference to permit Rumania to retain the arms with which she fought beside the United Nations, and not to impose economic burdens which could not at present be fulfilled. “Rumania is determined to retrieve the fault she committed and to bui’; a new framework of social and political life for her people,” he said. “We want to strengthen friendly relations with the Russians and re-establish relations with Britain and America on a basis of mutual confidence.”

Mr Vyshinsky (Russia) welcomed the development of “the new democratic Rumania.” He said Rumania’s journey along the road to democratisation was made difficult by reactionary forces within Rumania. He emphasised that Rumania had ceased fighting against the Soviet Union and joined forces against the Axis. Mr Vyshinsky said Rumania should not be made to pay complete reparations, but to make partial compensation.