RUMANIA IN MOURNING.

Evening Star, Issue 19614, 21 July 1927, Page 6

RUMANIA IN MOURNING.

“The King is dead; long live the King,” Is a saying that has no application to ‘Rumania. The end ot its monarch’s long fight with his cruel enemy, cancer—ho was reported to he dying in October last, and three months ago, according to reports, his death was expected hourly—makes the prospect of a long regency for the nation. The infatuation of a Royal heir who thought his world well lost lor love has brought this result about. It will to thirteen years before Prince Carol’s son, now a child of five, will be old enough to succeed to the throne. A regency of three persons, of whom the child s gucle. Prince Nicholas, is one, will hold

rule till then ifeit is allowed by scheming parties within the State to do so. The powers of kings may be hard to define to-day, but there never was a country that liked a regency. It makes no appeal to sentiment, and the incentive it gives to intrigues is the worst of disadvantages, llumania to-day is in much the samo position as Hungary, which was ■ proclaimed seven years ago, when the Republican Govarnment broke down, to bo a monarchy with a vacant throne. Hungary has not appreciated that anomalous position; it has been the cause of disturbing plots and incursions. and it is always the cause of suspicions. Its neighboring State will bo lucky if it enjoys it more. Rumania has had time, at least, to get used to the prospect. But the dangers of it have always been most in mind. It makes the future uncertain in an extreme degree. At any tunc sonio party may convince Prince Carol that his love and his throno together may not bo too much for him to possess. That would mean trouble, for llumania. One of the last acts of tho dving King was to dismiss tho Government of General Avcrceeu, because it was found that he had issued an order that, following the Sovereign’s death, all power should immediately pass into tho hands of the nearest senior military officer. The army would rule, and General Averescu would ho the real dictator. That, littlo plot was effectually frustrated first by tho King’s intervention, and then by tho method which was followed in holding elections. Opposition meetings, it is said, were forbidden throughout the country, and election literature was confiscated. The Socialist candidates in Transylvania wereimprisoned, and large numbers of Opposition supporters were called up for military training, making it impossible for them to vote. Others acre refused voting papers on various pretexts The result of the elections, helped by these devices, which would certainly not ho tolerated in any country more politically advanced, was that M. Bratiano, who had had only fifteen followers in tiro previous Parliament, was continued in office as [’rime Minis ter with a Following of 328 members, as compared with only sixty of his opponents, While his Government continues there will presumably ho small chance for anyone who might endeavor to upset tho Regency and the ultimate prospects of Prince Michael of Succeeding to the throne. M. Bratiano understands Rumania. He was Prime Minister twenty years ago. All his wisdom may ho needed in the days ahead. Russia lias not forgiven the allocation, by tho Allied Powers, of Bessarabia to the Danube State, and civil dissensions in her neighbor’s territory might make her opportunity tor aggression. A Communist plot was foiled not many months ago. A sentimental link between the British Empire and Rumania, is formed by the fact that Queen Marie, of tho ■latter country, is a cousin of King George.