NEAR EAST PROBLEMS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 36, 14 February 1929, Page 3

NEAR EAST PROBLEMS

NEW SPIRIT IN ROUMANIA ACCEPTING WESTERN INFLUENCE Su POSITION OF GOVERNMENT. (By CHAS. H. WOODS.) The recent crisis in Roumania and the replacement of M. Bratiano and his Liberal colleagues by M. Mania and a Nationali-Peasant Cabinet are not the result of a political struggle in the ordinary sense. They mean a far-reaching and peaceful revolution and a complete reversal of the whole Roumanian Governmental system.

This is the case because, whereas the so-called Liberal party is the expression of Old Roumania and Byzantinism, the National Peasants re present the new anid Western spirit inculcated by and depending largely upon the people of the provinces, particularly Transylvania, whfiph became Roumanian after the war.

Until the death of King Ferdinand in 1927—a death followed m a few months by that of M. Xonel Bratiano —the Liberal party enjoyed the . entire confidence faf the Court. The King and Queen shar-

ed .wl'tth this pl-imiportantj group the credit for more than doubling Roumania in size, they initiated the Agrarian reforms, which split UP the large estates and provided the peasants with their own lands. They were also responsible for a new Constitution, passed in 1923, under which universal suffrage and equally for the Jews were confirmed. At the end of and for s'orne time after the war, therefore, although, of course, a new spirit was beginning to arise, M, lonel Brati ano was in a position to govern as he thought fit. From the political standpoint his policy became more and more of a Dictatorship. regency a cypher.

As one of the most important acts in ins latef life M. louel Bratiano created the Regency. Foie seen in the P»CB.t-war Constitution, the actual appointment of the three Regents by King Ferdinand became necessary at the time of Prince Carol’s abdication in the winter of 1925-1926 But it was, and sti is, clear' that the late Premier's primary idea and object was to establish a body which, as a result of its composition and weakness, Would inevitably fall under Ihtai eventual control, should he outlive the sov-

ereign. This turned out to be the case, and for the limited time which intervened between the (death of the King and that of his trusted Prime Minister, the Grown, as represented by the Regents, was a mere cypher. That state of things continued for the greater part of M. Vintila Braiano’s

regime. _ Developing at the same time an running more Or less parallel to and encouraged by these f,veiA)> were (the. growth and position the National Peasants.; party. Actually formed in September, 1926, by the union of the Peasants (Tsaranists) of Old Roumania with the Nationalists largely recruited f -l om Transylvania, this party, already by then a great force, had of; late been the (only real opposition. Led by M. Manip and tricked tout of office on one or more occasions it has ctonsterility claimed constitutionalism I politics, absolute liberty W the elections, and unlimited competition in finance, commerce, and industry. PORTENTS OF CHANGE* From the time of the holding of the giant National Peasant Congress at Alba Julia in May last the situation has been recognised as critical, and a change of Government has been expected. But the suddenness of the November crisis came as a complete surprise even to those in closest touch with Roumanian afflairs, and it can only be attributed to two main causes. In the first place, the Regency was 'beginning to realise that its favouiite atjtitu.de towards the Liberal party must be modified. Indeed, it was widely reported that one or more of i its members had promised power to M. Maniu before December 1, when the national celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the union of Transylvania would fall due, and when MJ. Bratiano’s (presence in Tranjssylvania would have been resented. These changes and these suggestions Avero naturally knOAyn to M. Bratian'o, who in his turn recognised that lie no longer; enjoyed the

full confidence of the Crown. On the other side of the picture there were Jixe negotiations witU Germany and long-di’awn-'out business of the lean. The National Peasants, who had always favoured application for foreign capital, were not opposed to the suggested ai - rangements as such, hut they objected to M. Bratiano’s usurpation of their programme.

One of two things, therefore, occurred. Either the foreign hankers indicated that they desired the approval of all parties to their project, ter M. Bratiano, realising the difficulties of the position, approached the Regency on his own initiative. However this may he, the former Premier seems to have indicated that if he could not he assured of a mandate sufficiently long to enable him to sign and put the loan and the stabilisation scheme into operation he would prefer at once to make way for a Coalition.

In the opinion of the present writer, a Coalition Government under neutral leadership would have provided the best temporary solution of a difficult situation. It was not possible of formation, however, because of the difficulty of guaranteeing early power to the National Peasants, and because of the wide divergence in views between Jtfhat party and the Liberals. FEW PEASANT PROPRIETORS.

It is total soon to suggest the detailed policy of ‘the nqw Government. It' may, however, he said with certainty that the (National Peasant party is in no sense Bolshevik in its attitude, and that it npt only represents the, new Peasant Proprietor class of the entire Kingdom, hut also those new and younger elements who recognise that Roumania must he run in a modem and Western, and not in an out-of-date and Eastern manner.

At home this means that there is to be political liberty and abolition 'of the censorship, there is to be |>ome| form Qof decentralisation necessary in view of the differences between the new and the old pio-

I vinecs and there is to he a purificaI titan, or at any rate an attempted purification of the administration. In economic affairs it is proposed to lower the import duties in such a. way as to reduce the prices of goods essential to Roumanian existence, and especially to the exist- | cnee and prosperity of the': agriculturists. Furthermore, with the ob(ject of attracting foreign capital, th e I investment W which had been discouraged by M. Bratiano’s legislation, many of the recently passed laws are to come up for revision or modification. With regard to foreign poliny no decided changes are anticipated.

The future largely depends upon whether the National Peasants have the organisation and capacity foi

Government, upon success in overcoming the financial crisis and upon an ability to restrain their lesser supporters, who vdere hungjiy for office. Their attempts in these directions will be watched wtl-h great attention by these who know the country.