RUMANIAN OIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23718, 26 July 1940, Page 7

RUMANIAN OIL

COMPANY CONFISCATED ANGLO-DUTCH INTERESTS OUTPUT FOR GERMANY (Received July 25, 7.15 p.m.) BUCHAREST, July 25 The Rumanian Oil Commission has appointed a controller to supervise the affairs of Astra Rumana, Rumania's biggest oil undertaking, which is owned by Anglo-Dutch interests. The appointment follows an allegation that the company had failed to supply required details of its operations. . The Bucharest correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain points out that this action represents Government confiscation of the company, the output from which will now be sent to Germany. The seizure of the undertaking coincided with the publication, in' the Rumanian press of a German White Book alleging a British and French plot to wreck the Veils and refineries and so prevent oil from reaching Germany. A decree commandeers, all railway tank-waggons, including those belonging to *foreign-owned oil companies. REMOVAL OF GERMANS SETTLERS IN BESSARABIA (Received July 25, 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 24 A message from Berlin says that from 75,000 to 80,000 Germans from Bessarabia are resettling in Germany. Bessarabia is the portion of Rumania recently ceded to Russia. The British United Press Bucharest correspondent says t'he former Rumanian Foreign Minister, Dr. Grigore Gafencu, has been named as Ambassador to Moscow. Russia is reported to be willing to accept him. BALTIC STATES AMERICAN DIPLOMACY (Received July 25, 7.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 25 The State Department has withdrawn, its chief diplomatic and military representatives from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Members of the diplomatic staffs will remain. YUGOSLAV MASONS POLICE TAKE ACTION BELGRADE, July 24 It is officially stated that the police searched the headquarters of the Grand Masonic Lodge and interviewed several persons believed to be connected with the Masons. POPE'S EFFORTS FAIL PRAYER ONLY WAY TO PEACE VATICAN CITY, July 24 Authoritative Vatican quarters say that the Pope has abandoned hope of a peace settlement between the Axis lowers and Britain, following the British Government's response to Hitler. According to these circles feelers which have been made since Hitler's speech through Vatican channels have been negative. Consequently the Pope is expected to deliver a homily shortly, in which he will exhort the faithful throughout the world to pray lor peace as the only way to terminate .the war.