RUMANIAN EVENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 9, 12 January 1938, Page 7

RUMANIAN EVENTS

KEY TO THE CHANGES

MENACE TO THE CZECHS

Fear oi' Russia and of Communism may mean Ihc acceptance by the Rumanian people of a Germanic policy, and in the formation of the. new Rumanian Ministry by M. Goga, 'joint leader of the Fascist National Christian party, are elements which Wright bring about the collapse of the kittle Entente, says the ■ "Sydney Mcoiniing Herald." '■"■

Commenting on the political developments in. Rumania, Professor Sv H. Roberts, Professor of History at^the University of Sydney, said thatAthe Goga Ministry was pledged to a*.German alliance, a move which ■ flight affect the whole of Europe. /... "It would be the first breach fn-'the anti-Nazi barrier from the Baltic tp-'the Black Sea; it would be the deathVbJow to the Little Entente, and would'JOrce France, Czechoslovakia, and Russia into a straight-out military alliance," said Professor Roberts. "Czechoslovakia would be squeezed between ■two Fascist pincers. '"' "The rise of the Goga Ministry,"'said Professor Roberts, "is surprising;"" So much so that I cannot see how it can succeed, unless King Carol is foiced, out, or goes Fascist. It is true that palace intrigues always play a strong part in Rumanian politics, and that Carol would do anything to keep^his position; but he has always been so consistently anti-German, and. lihas taken such strong measures agijinst the Iron Guard, especially in the/Jast five months rMINORITY RULE. "The.Goga Ministry represents fundamental changes. .At hqme, it means a minority rule in a totalitarian State; because the Fascist front, has not",:the support of most of the people; abipad, it is equally as important, because'rit is pledged to support Fascist' foreign. policy. Goga leads the.National'Christr ian. party, which is part of the wider Fascist front that has emerged ijrithe last two years. • ' • : :' ' \_ "Cuba's party, the old Iron Guard, and the National Peasant., party}; all work together; and' the impartant-p'oint is that, while Cuza?s Greeri'sKirts worked, in the cities, GpgaJs^ineii stirred up the peasants, relying"' on their fear of Bolshevism to turn them to pro-German ideas. "The country as a whole is. prosperous, but Goga promised • vague economic changes, especially a rnbnnpoly of all posts for pure Ruriia&t&ns, and steps to control foreign capital. "But the fear of Russia was hisinaia weapon. This affords the clue tq"the whole tangled story. The confejejice of the Little Entente recently affirjiied a common foreign policy, and Premier Tatarescu stood for collaboration-.with, Czechoslovakia, and openly favoured the Czech-Russian pact. But the Fascist ■ opposition said that this sacrificed Rumania's interests. " ~f, "Titulescu had been forced out^for wanting better relations with Russia, and now the Rumanians were afraid that they would be dragged into war because of Czechoslovakia," Professor Roberts said. "They were especially perturbed by the plans to finisrj;;the Bessarabian railway in order to allow Russian troops to go to the aid q't-the Czechs; and Goga ceaselessly played on. the countrymen's fear of Communism. "While the mass of the people wera not pro-German or Greenshirts, they; might be. prepared to accept" a -Germanic policy because of ;their fear fcoth of Russia and of Communism, i'-r "THE LITTLE ENTENTE." f" "These events also show the eScient of recent German penetration/'rprofessor Roberts added. "In the;;iast year, Italy has been gaming influence in Yugoslavia, and Germany in-"Ru-mania. The Nazis have - been subsidising the Press, backing the Grienshirts in every way,'.and penetrating the land economically, through .such combines as the A.E.G. .-.; ■ "Rumania was vital to their" schemes, not only, for its resources in f OocUiand petroleum, but also because* of its strategical position; and herein-lieg the real.importance of the Goga Ministry. It is pledged to a German alliance, a move which might affect the whole of Europe. ' "The main • menace would. be to Czechoslovakia, because, instead' of having an ally on the south, and'-con-nection, through that ally's territory, with Russia, she would be squeezed between two Fascist pincers * "From the crudest aspect of po.werpolitics, then, the Goga Ministry,; if it survives, is a much greater gain* foe the dictators than all the nebulous-ante* Communist pacts. Co-operation Germany would not only give" thf Four-Year Plan a chance to survive^ it would also unlock Germany's" e» circlement, and make possible, hey longed-for expansion to the Blaclc-'-Seifc "Goga," added Professor Robert^ "has also played on the growing- Seefe ing against France in Rumania. Many Rumanians feel that France has-beeif too much concerned with her own-wel. fare of late, and has neglected lesser allies. In particular, there fcavd been bitter complaints about,-, re» armament, - ; "Although Rumania lodged orders for artillery and planes in France'.^and paid a thousand million lei in cash up to June 23, she had received only three planes in return. Hence the turn ie Germany, which may upset the whdla balance of power in Europe, althougb it would be premature to accept such an uncertain ministry as permanent."