NEW ORDER IN RUMANIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23002, 1 April 1938, Page 8

NEW ORDER IN RUMANIA

Countries like Rumania are no longer so remote from the general current of world affairs as they appeared not long ago. With the effective spearhead of German Naziism moved so far south and east as the occupation of Austria involved, events in the Balkans gather a new significance. This is especially so with Rumania, because, although there are buffer States separating her from Austria, some 800,000 Germans live within her borders. Their grievances and influence have had a considerable effect on Rumanian affairs. Actually, when, early in February, the King's intervention caused M. Goga to resign and a new Government "of National Union" to be fonned, the move was promptly described as being antiNazi. M. Goga's policy, so far as he had one, was mildly Nazi, being anti-Semitic, and favourable to a closer understanding with Germany and Italy. While he held office, the much more militant Iron Guard, which is aggressively Nazi, was growing in strength. As perhaps a natural consequence, Communism was also gathering more support. Against these two forces King Carol proposed to organise a new form of government, acting himself through a Parliament of corporative character. He proclaimed a constitution of this character and had it approved by a plebiscite. But his bold stroke was not made wholly from political motives. The Treasury was • emptying rapidly and trade was declining. Restorative economic measures were badly needed. Though the emergency Government has been dissolved, and a new one formed, it is not clear that there will be any change of policy. The two menaces of national dissension and economic degeneration probably demanded the strong measures taken, but the pity is they seem to have meant destroying whatever of democracy there was in Rumania.