STRICKEN RUMANIA. STRICKEN RUMANIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12410, 30 August 1918, Page 5

STRICKEN RUMANIA. STRICKEN RUMANIA.

JUNKER’S JACK-BOOT IN OPERATION.

(By KEITH MURDOCH, Special ft* presen tat ivo of the Melbourne Herald. ’)

No Ally blames this unfortunate country for bargaining with the enemy. Her case is judged the most terrible tragedy of the war. She was sold by the old regime of Russia, and that she joined us with full faith when our for. tunes were at their worst adds poign. ancy to the disaster. .She is now ground harder under Prussia's heel than any free nation can well realise. What would Australia think of wholesale trade monopolies being conceded to Germany? The “ Franfurter Zeitung” cheerfully explains—" Rumania has been tied down to her fixed tariff rates i and wo have complete freedom of ac-' tiou. Thus Rumania is tied onesidedly :n our favour.”

Sho is deprived of all power to make commercial agreements other than those dictated by Gemarny, She is forbidden to raise revenue by export duties on petroleum, all of which passes into Germany’s hands as a monopdw Germans are to have tho right to buy up land as they please: in the country districts Germans and German companies are to be granted leases of thirty years, with the right of renewal up to ninety years. Under this pretence of supplying the Rumanian railways with rolling stock, Germany has secured a monopoly of such supplies, and in return for this “concession” she is to have a permanent right to “supervise” the railways. 1 “A representative of the German railway administration.” says tho frankfurter Zeitung,’* is to be staironed in Rumania, to supervise tho material supplied by us and the employment of such material in our' interest ’ _ Railway rates have been) settled in our favour,” Germany is to have permanent telegraphic rights, and a cable station on what remains of the Rumanian coast. Sho has a fortyyear lease of a shipbuilding yard on the Danube, control of Danube navigation, and settlement of all shipping dues “in our favour.” H as anything “ in our favour ” been forgotten? Nothing. Rumania is enslaved.

“A PLEASING CONCESSION.” It is typical of the Hun’s peace manoeuvres—typical of the tricky Reichstag peace resolution, Which Maximilian Harden describes as “ turned putrid before its death,” typical also of the murder of the Ukraine—that Germany should exact ruthless terns by negotiations, and then turn and refuse to carry out her part of the bargain. . Rumania was promised an international commission to control Danube navigation.” But when peace was signed Germany said that she was at war with the world and therefore the commission must be GerGermany -agreed not to impose export duties upon machinery, tools, jcjVj aci 4 s * soda. “Of course, wo did, cries the exultant "Zeifcung.” . because wo never had the slightest intention to put on such duties We promised readily to make this pleasing concession/” . . :

I suppose it gave the poor Rumanian statesmen some sort of feeling that they were putting an independent, i g ij , Rumanians asked that coal ■should be included in this list But at. once Germany refused ; for, as Britain has proved l during the war, the supply or non-supply of coal to a. neighbour is a powerful economic weaE°“- for food, Rumania is to be licked bare. Germany has secured tho right to ‘ all surplus foodstuffs for nine years, and the newspapers glowingly describe that this is of special importance, fop tho world will be hungry for some years after tho war.

AN EXACTING MASTER. Germany knows every trick by which the screw can be applied. In her bargainings with Rumania she began by decreeing that the King,. Ferdinand, must go. He was a Honenzollern who had turned against the Hohenzollerns —■a German who had foughthis fatherland. Whether the Kaiser was everprepared to dethrone his cousin is not known. But certainly the weapon was cruelly used, and humiliating term!? were accepted to save tho King. Germany not only leaves her bruised and beaten foe bare of- possessions; she also kicks tho life nearly out of anyone she defeats and takes a mortgage over the future. Rumania’s Queen—.an Englishwoman— proudly declares that she does not recognise- tho Cl peace,” and that she will never have anv dealings t with a German. Her children are side to side with her. Some spark of hope still flickers’. It> flickers also for Russia, for Serbia, for Montenegro. It burns brightly for the indomitable Belgians. On e cannot prv into the. future. Perhaps that part of it that is going to be most horrible is tho days when great tempting? come upon us -to save our lives by letting Germany keep her eastern gains. It is Trell to look that question squarely in the face, so that we may bo prepared to get our .eyes safely focussed on tho deeper view of complete victory further ahead. It is promised by America’s gigantic preparations. And here in London those most in the knowledge of things believe that grim tenacitr, and patience, with heavy sacrifice anil' great effort, will yet secure it*