Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1915. ROUMANIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 17 February 1915, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1915. ROUMANIA.

THE recent announcement by the Bulgarian Premier that his country intends to remain .strictly neutral will have some bearing on the future action of Roumania where popular feeling is strongly with the Allies; but where direct action has not taken place owing to doubt as to the attitude of Bulgaria. The position of Roumania has been tersely put by Mr Nicholas Filipescu, the leader of the Conservative party in Roumania. "When war broke out,"' said Mr Filipescu, "Roumanian policy had for 30 years been bound up with the Triple Alliance. The reason is to be found in the fact that Russia took Bessarabia from us in spite of the support we gave her at Plevna. Nevertheless, Roumania brought to the Triple Entente the gift of the neutrality of her 600,000 soldiers. Three causes determined this attitude —First, the Hungarian persecution' of Roumanian subjects ; second, the diplomatic attitude of Austria-Hungary towards us during the Balkan conflict.: and, finally, the love of our people for France. But our neutrality, more and more friendly to the Triple Entente, is becoming irksome. In the famous phrase used of journalism as a career, '"lt may lead to anything so long as you get out of it.' Out of it we shall get, and soon. Why not at once? I may be asked. Personally, I should prefer it. But I must acknowledge that the supporters of the policy of waiting —for a little time at least—have have some reason on their side. In view of the uncertainty of Bulgaria's attitude they point out- that Roumania might have to fight on two' fronts, and, therefore, her immediate entry into the war might be less efficacious. And so I say, let us be quite clear as to the attitude of our southern neighbours, and we tome in tomorrow. In any case, it is only a matter of weeks, and' Roumania, after giving her neutrality, will give her aid."

Roumanians interest in Transylvania is more than, a question of acquisition of territory. By participation she hopes to free large numbers of her own people from tyranny'. Notwithstanding that the million and a-'half'Roumanians form a, majority of the population in Transylvania, they are dominated over and subjected to cruelties by the Magzars, who are supported by Austria and Hungary. ■; . - •