RUMANIAN CRISIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1940, Page 7

RUMANIAN CRISIS

GERMANS AND IRON GUARD [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] BUCHAREST, December 3. It was stated on behalf of the Government that “certain organs of the press and the radio abroad are spreading rumours concerning the internal situation in Rumania. Competent circles emphasise the recent great Rumanian celebrations, where-in-one hundred thousand Transylvanian peasants participated, as evidences of the solidarity of all of the civil and military institutions, and of the complete confidence of the whole country in Generals Antonescu and Doriasima. The Germans pointed out that the strongly mechanised force on parade was only part of the Nazi army garrisoned in Rumania. An order has been issued for the dismissal of the special police attached to the Iron Guard, and an inquiry is to be made into the antecedents of men who have joined the guard in the last three months. These measures are taken as a sign that the activities of the Iron Guard are to be curbed now that this organisation has served Germany’s purpose.

IRON GUARD DISSOLVED. (Recd. December 4, 11.45 a.m.) BUCHAREST, December 3. Horia Sima, the Rumanian Nazi leader, in a sensational decree, has dissolved the Iron Guards and special police, and has ordered an inquiry into the status of all members of the Iron Guard enrolled in the past three months. The wearing of green shirts is banned, except for special occasions. The British United Press correspondent at Bucharest says: The decree is one of the most important since General Antonescu acceded to office. It substantially reduces the Iron Guards’ authority. The special police numbered 10,000. They were organised when the Iron Guards were restored recently to status. EX-MINISTERS FLEE. (Recd. Dec. 4,2 p.m.). LONDON, December 3. The Associated Press Budapest correspondent says that M. Gigurtu and M. Manoilescu have fled to Germany, to escape the Iron Guards. M. Tartarescu is reported to be attempting to reach Jugoslavia.