RUMANIA FALLS TO ALLIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 203, 25 August 1944, Page 5

RUMANIA FALLS TO ALLIES

PEACE PLAN ACCEPTED PROCLAMATION BY KING MICHAEL Reed. 6.15 p.m. London, Aug. 23. Rumania has accepted Russian peace terms and has announced that she would become an ally ot the United Nations. Bucharest radio broadcast a Royal proclamation accepting Russian peace terms and announcing the fall of the Cabinet. Wireless reception was poor, but the proclamation In esse_.ee announced:— (11 That a national government would be formed. (2) That peace terms had been accepted. (3) That Rumania would become an ally of the United Nations. (4) That Rumania would take her fate in her own hands and fight against her enemies. (5) Citizens were called on to rally round the Throne. 1 (6) The Vienna award, which apparently was the Hitler diktat dividing Rumania and giving part of Transylvania to Hungary, had been rejected. The new Cabinet includes Dr. Maniu and M. Bratianu. Bucharest radio continued repeating the Royal proclamation for 45 minutes.

The British United Press points out that the sudden interruption of normal programmes and the continued repetition appears to indicate a planned move by the Rumanian Government to give Germany, the shortest possible warning of her defection. A fair number of German troops are still in Rumania and a German headquarters staff is in Bucharest. KING MICHAEL’S PROCLAMATION

King Michael’s proclamation, read over Bucharest radio, said: “In this difficult hour of our country it has been decided for the salvation of the fatherland that there shall be an immediate cessation of hosti.ities with the United Nations, f call on the Government of National Union to fulfil the determined will of the country and conclude peace with the United Nations. Rumania has accented an armistice offered by the Soviet, Britain and America. From this moment all hostilities against the Soviet armies and the state of war with Britain and America should cease. I have received an appeal from these nations with confidence that they Will guarantee Rumania’s independence. They have recognised the injustice of Vienna Diktat, under which Transylvania was torn from us. Anybody opposing o r decision and taking justice in his own hands is an enemy of our nation. I order the army and the whole nation’ to fight against him with all means and at the cost of any sacrifice. All Rumania must rally round the Throne and the Government. He who does not assist the Government and resists the will of the nation is a traitor. We are at the side of the United Nations ;-.d with their help will cross the frontiers unjustly imposed on us at Vienna.”

Bucharest radio stated that a national government was b"ing formed under General Konstantin.