ROYAL DICTATORSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1938, Page 9

ROYAL DICTATORSHIP

"AN UPHILL TASK"

MINISTRY OF ALL THE

TALENTS'

LONDON, February 12.

The new Rumanian Government is a type of dictatorship Europe has not previously seen, says the Bucharest correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph." King Carol has forbidden all party political activity, abolished the constitution and Parliament, indicated that a new constitution will be dictated, and placed all power in the hands of the military, but has persuaded many leading politicians, except the Democratic Party, to lend their names to the new Government. They thus hope to rescue the country from the political and economic dangers at home and ' abroad into which it was plunged by the seven weeks, of disastrous rule by M. Goga and M. Cuza. ,;'.'

The greatest interest attaches' to the intentions of Mr. Maniu, ..the so-called "Rumanian Cromwell," and the reactions of the Fascist leader,: M.

Cpdreanu, and the Iron Guard to the substitution of a Royal for a Fascist dictatorship. \

Dr. Maniu declares: 'The Goga Government was doomed to early cease. Its successor at least has the merit of being the King's personal regime, disregarding both the constitution arid all democratic principles. King Carol should have allowed me to form a Cabinet instead of creating a conglomeration with the sole aim of trampling national. rights Underfoot. Accompaniedl by corruption, an absence of reforms, and cQntempt for Christian moralityl and national honour, Monsignor Cristea will not last any longer than M. Goga."

Monsignor Cristea's strong antiSemitism has damped the enthusiasm of the Jews at M. Goga's fall.

A message from Bucharest states that Monsignor Cristea's "Ministry of air the talents" faces an uphill task in rehabilitating a country where business is so stagnant, that it is said the only dealings are in naturalisation papers. King Carol is anxious for the situation to quieten down, for which reason he has postponed the elections, which, if'held at present, might have provoked bloodshed.v • Meanwhile, troops are strengthening the frontier guards, who have orders to round Up, and if necessary shoot, all provocative agents. A rigorous censorship continues, especially concerning the disappearance of M. Butenko, of the Soviet Embassy. Caricatures and cartoons of Ministers are barred.

The "Daily Herald" asserts that King Carol is determined to crush the Fascist Iron Guard and curb the growing power of its leader, M. Codreariu, which threatens to rival his own. King Carol, in order to accomplish this, has had also to destroy democratic government.

The Berlin Press gives the impression that M. Goga's resignation, which has greatly upset the Nazis, was the work of Jews. " ■ ■

.The "Daily Telegraph's" Rome correspondent says that with the downfall of M. Goga hopes of an ItalianRumanian rapprochement and consequent isolation of Czechoslovakia Jiave disappeared.