RUMANIAN EXECUTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1940, Page 7

RUMANIAN EXECUTIONS

GOVT. AND ARMY PROTESTS GENERALS TO RESIGN [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.] BUCHAREST, November 27. An official communique states that the Rumanian Government disapproves of the executions. It is taking measures against those who were responsible. In future, anyone making similar attempts will' be severely punished.. M. Horiasima has appealed to the Iron Guard to maintain order and discipline. He has promised the Iron Guard’s loyalty to General Antonescu. t . According to the Budapest radio, all of the Generals in the Roumanian Army have offered their resignations as a result of the executions. The ex-Ministers, M. Gigurtu and M. Argetoianu have been released. The Rumanian press hails the late Colonel Codreanu as “the greatest hero and saint of all time.” When the executions were carried out, the bodies of Colonel Codreanu and of fifteen other members of the Iron Guard were ceremoniously taken from the ditch where they lay. They are being reburied on Sunday next, in an Orthodox church in the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile Orthodox priests are praying day and night beside the fifty-foot slab previously covering the ditch. There is to be a big procession on Sunday at the burial.

REIGN OF TERROR ANTONESCU MAY RESIGN (Recd. November 29, 12.25 p.m.) BUCHAREST, November 28. General Antonescu issued a decree providing death penalties for wilful murder and robbery, if over £lOOO is involved. The decree, which was hastened to cover any future attempts, by unauthorised persons to take the law into their own hands, also, provides a penalty of five to ten years’ hard labour for kidnapping and breaking into private premises. M. Madgearu was shot dead near Bucharest.

The Associated Press Budapest correspondent says that General Antonescu is struggling to check the anarchy developing, and is reported to be considering resignation if the Legionaries are not restrained. A reign of terror exists in Bucharest despite the leaders’ plea for order. Bratianu the former leader of the Liberals, and Amandi, the former Minister of Justice, may also have been murdered. ■ The Legionaries are a rebellious wing in the Iron Guard. lon Codreanu may be the leader of the Wing. The members include a number of priests. The Legionaires themselves informed the police of the executions, but none was detained, not even for questioning. They dumped the bodies of the victims in a prison grave, from which the bones of members of the Iron Guard .were previously taken. Bands of Green Shirts have driven Jews from shops and synagogues in Braila. , All public buildings in Bucharest are being heavily guarded. The military are patrolling the streets. The Berlin News Agency stated that the Legionaries yesterday took Profes sor Jorga, Rumanian Premier in 1931 from his house. His body was found on the road near Ploesti, to-day, riddled with bullets. He once brought a libel action against Codreanu. The Rome “Popolo Di Roma” described the Bucharest executions ,as unjustified lynching, and added that the action was not legal and contrary to General Antonescu’s political tendencies.

BULGARIA CALM. RUGBY, November 28. The Bulgarian Minister in London states that rumours current abroad, particularly in Bucharest and Belgrade, alleging the overthrow of the Bulgarian Government, and the declaration of a state of siege at Sofia, are tendentious and entirely without foundation. The Minister adds that the situation throughout Bulgaria is perfectly calm.