Manawatu Daily Times King Carol

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7242, 13 June 1930, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times King Carol

Europe—and the world at large—is being treated to a curious spectacle in Rumania. A prodigal prince, heir to a throne, deserts his wife and infant son, leaves his country, and goes to Paris with his mistress. For a long while he refuses to leave the siren who has wooed him from the path of royal duty and rectitude, even when a vacant throne awaited him. Now professing a sudden love for his country he returns dramatically and mounts the throne.'

Whether he will long remain there, only the political parties can decide. The Liberals, when Bratianu was alive, were pponents to the Prince, and the National-Peasant Party professed to favour his return, though this solicitude was possibly inspired rather by a desire to injure Bratianu than from love of the somewhat amorous prince. It has been known for some time that Carol himself had tired of his exile and was anxious and willing to accept the crown he had twice renounced “if his country called.”

lie appeared, not long ago, to have heard the call when, it will be remembered, his visit to England was terminated by the Home Office on the ground that his suspected negotiations with his Rumanian supporters constituted an abuse of British hospitality. Lately Carol has lain low, but apparently he has been steadily working for the day when he could defy his ten years’ decree of banishment and relieve his small son Michael of a crown which must have weighed heavily on his young brow.

Since Ferdinand's death a Regency has ruled the country, and it may be doubted whether the three members of the Regency Council will warmly welcome the return of the prodigal Prince Carol. One member, Prince Nicholas, certainly will resent his elder brother's reappearance, but as Prince Nicholas is more concerned with the driving of motor-cars at prodigious speed than with the cares of office, and as he is likely to obey the dictates of his stern-willed mother, he will probably retire gracefully if the Dowager Queen Marie so decides.

There is one consideration which will have been all-import-ant to Prince Carol in his latest and apparently successful attempt to recover the throne of Rumania—his reception by the people. In spite of his vagaries indications have not been lacking, from time to time, that he has a fairly strong personal ■ following, and it has even been claimed that 80 per cent, of Rumanians desire his accession. The Regency Council has functioned but indifferently, none of its members having had any adequate training in the difficult art of government, and, it is rumoured, unanimity having not always blessed its decisions. It is possible, therefore, that the people may welcome Carol as a more single-minded, if no more experienced, ruler.

Rumania is greatly in need of capital for the exploitation of her rich natural resources, and there is no doubt that the instability of the throne, which has been reflected in a certain instability of domestic policy, has been a factor in causing foreign investors to fight shy of Rumanian enterprises. Dr. Maniu has effected great economies since he became Prime Minister, and his government has been sound and progressive, but the country is in need of a figure whose impartiality would inspire confidence among all sections of the community.

Competent observers have stated that such a man is not to be found in Rumania. Thus Carol has been given his opportunity. The most ardent of his adherents would scarcely suggest that his is a dominant personality, though it might be described as remarkable, but Carol at least is a lineeal successor of King Ferdinand, and as such might be accepted by the people as the best substitute obtainable for a strong king. Carol’s enthusiastic reception at Bucharest suggests that his subjects are willing to forgive and forget his past indiscretions. It only remains now for Princess Helen also to forget and forgive to complete a picture of royal bliss in the best Rumanian manner. But what would happen in England if such an affair were possible A