PACT WITH NAZIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19898, 28 March 1939, Page 6

PACT WITH NAZIS

POSITION OF RUMANIA EXCHANGES IN TRADE NO POLITICAL CLAUSE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE (Klee. Tel. Copyright—l T nilo<l Cress Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.30 p.rn. RUGBY, March 27. At tlie end of a very long answer to a question on the Rumanian-Ger-man trade agreement, the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, said, in the House of Commons to-day that the extension of Anglo-Rumanian trade and the promotion of economic relations between the two countries w as a matter to which Britain attached the greatest importance. He referred to the recent decision to send a commercial mission to Bucharest and added: “Rumania is still anxious that the mission should proceed and that, of course, is our intention." Of the agreement between Rumania and Germany, Mr. Chamberlain said it was planned in the nature of a comprehensive programme, the precise effects of which in practice would depend mainly on the manner in which its provisions were carried out. In these circumstances, he declared, they must await developments before coming to any definite conclusion. Rumania had informed Britain that the negotiations proceeded on normal lines, that tlie agreement contained no political clause and that Rumania had not signed away her economic independence.

As described to Britain by Rumania, the effect of the agreement, in broad outline, was to enable Rumania to dispose to Germany of a great deal ot' her produce for which she was unable to find alternative markets and to receive in return German assistance in the form of equipment and technical advice in the exploitation of her resources. It appeared that Germany w.ould co-operate in the development of existing industries in Rumania and in setting up new ones, particularly in the fields of agriculture, forestry and mining. She would also assist in the construction ,of public utility concerns and communications and finally she would supply Rumania with armaments. FIGHT FOR INTEGRITY RUMANIANS WILLING ‘ PR EM I EE’S DECLAR ATION i Reed. March 28, 1.50 p.m.) BUCHAREST, March 27. The Rumanian Prime Minister, M. Calinescu. states: “We will fight with all our might for the integrity of our country. “Rumania took military precautions on March 15 because Hungary was concentrating troops on the frontier and showed, by wireless announcements, that she was aggressive towards Rumania. Not desiring foreign territory, Rumania refused the offer of the Rutheninn Premier, M. Volosin, of the annexation of Ruthenia. M. Calinescu added that. the German-Rumanian agreement was exclusively economic. M. Calinescu declared that had Germany raised the question of Rumania's independence, he would immediately have broken off the trade pact negotiations. Tlie Rumanian Foreign Minister, M. Gafencu, said that Rumania had not intervened in Ruthenia because of friendship to Poland and understanding of the Hungarian desires.