OBITUARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18762, 29 December 1930, Page 8

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF M. BRATIANO. United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 27. The death is announced of M. Bratiano, an ex-Prime Minister of Rumania. On the outbreak of the world war M. Bratiano, in contrast to King Carol, who wished to come in on the side of the central Powers in accordance with Rumania’s engagements, succeeded in preserving the country’s neutrality. The new orientation of Rumanian policy initiated by him led, on August 27, 1916, to the country entering the war on the side of the Allies. The military successes of the central Powers against Rumania in the autumn of 1916, and the Peace of Bucharest, signed on May 7, 1917, seemed to show that M. Bratiano’s policy had been a misguided one, but it emerged triumphand after the collapse of the Central Powers in the late autumn of 1928. Transylvania, part of the BanatS, the Bukovina and Bessarabia became part of Rumania. When, however, M. Bratiano failed at the Paris Peace Conference to secure the whole of the Banate for Rumania, and as he refused to sign the peace treaties or to evacuate Budapest, he had to resign on September 12, 1919. The Governments of Vaitoianu, Vaida-Voevod, Avereseu, and Take Jonescu followed. Meanwhile, M. Bratiano had succeeded in re-organising the Liberal Party. The Cabinet of M. Jonescu did not outlive its presentation on January 17, 1922, to the Chamber, and M. Bratiano formed a Cabinet, aided by the results of a general election which gave his party an overwhelming majority. The Opposition challenged the validity of the election and absented itself from Parliament. But M. Bratiano went calmly on his course, and introduced comprehensive reforms in the Constitution, the agrarian system, the administration, and In financial fiscal, and educational legislation. He held the office of Prime Minister till 1929.