SUPREME POWERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 239, 6 September 1940, Page 7

SUPREME POWERS

RUMANIAN DICTATOR BLOW TO KING. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received September ti, 10.55 a.m. BUCHAREST, Sept. 5. General Antonescu, Rumania’s new Prime Minister, is hurriedly forming a strong Government to restore order.

A Royal decree dissolving Parliament and suspending the Constitution, and granting General Antonescu supreme powers to rule the country, was issued at dawn.

A decree suspending Parliament limits King Carol's powers and makes General Antonescu a virtual, dictator.

King Carol must obtain the Premier’s consent for the appointment of Ministers, but be may mint money, bestow decorations, grant reprieves, and conclude treaties.

General Antonescu is forming a new Government, which it is believed will he composed almost entirely of members of the Iron Guard. For the first time since King Carol came to the Throne, the Premier took the oath before forming the Cabinet. General Antonescu has issued a proclamation stating: “We haven’t a new Government, hut a new regime. I am constituting the Government on a new basis and presenting the people with a new programme which they can judge for themselves. It will he a purely national programme based oil national faith. . “I shall reform the State by tine

General Antonescu lias demanded the dismissal of King Carol s ring of intimate advisers. . ■ The Associated Press of Americas Bucharest correspondent says King Coral hedged for hours before lie signp/1 +lip rlprree. General Antonescu also demanded the banishment of Madame Lupescu, but King Carol threatened .to leave Rumania with her. RUSSIAN THREAT GROWS. General Antonescu summoned all the Rumanian generals to a surprise conference of which there is no official explanation... _ As the Russian threat grows, Russian troop movements on the Rumanian troiiticr are creating intense nervousness. , The Germans are expected to take action should the Russians march. The disorders of Friday are revealed a 3 more widespread and more serious than was supposed. Despite outward calm, there is an undertone of anxiety. The Iron Guard is expected to exploit the popular anger throughout the country against the award of Transylvania to Hungary. Demonstrators completely wrecked the Italian Consulate at Cluj, the administrative centre of Transylvania, and only police intervention saved the Consul. The Italian Consulate at Timisoara is also reported to have been destroyed and the Consul manhandled. Several deaths are reported to have occurred when Rumanian troops and civilians resisted the Hungarians crossinn- the Satumare'frontier prematurely. King Carol lias accepted the. resignation, as the result of the shooting on Tuesdav, of-General Urdarianu (Marshal of'the Royal Court). He was King Carol’s right-band man. The Dailv Mail’s special correspondent at Belgrade forwards a report from Budapest that German troops are reported to have occupied strategic positions in North-Eastern Hungary along the main railway linking Rumania with Germany. A Berlin message states it is officially denied that German mechanised units are taking over the defence of the Russian-Rumanian border. RELATIONS WITH AXIS. General Antonescu announces the strengthening of ties with Axis. He will complete his Cabinet within several days. It is unlikely to include Dr J. Mauiu (the Peasant Party Leader). , _ , The Romo radio stated that General Antonescu had given an assurance that Rumania would continue to honour her pledges to Transylvania, ihe Iron Guard revolt was now under control. ’ A Budapest message says the Regent (Admiral Horthy), astride a white horse, accompanied by leading officials, led troops across the frontier into Satumare this morning. Thirty thousand persons wildly cheered. Reuter’s Budapest correspondent says heavy firing is in progress in Bucharest. Further Iron Guard demonstrations broke out in the evening. Troops armed with machine-guns are clearing the streets.