ROUMANIA’S GRAIN DEAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14740, 20 October 1915, Page 4

ROUMANIA’S GRAIN DEAL.

Some slight apprehension concerning Eoumania’s attitude towards the Allies has been occasioned by the report that Germany has arranged to purchase the whole of Roumapia’s wheat supply. There is really no cause for alarm, for the “deal" was arranged months ago, when Eoumania, being neutral, was naturally anxious to dispose of her produce to the beet advantage. As a matter of tact, Eoumania is merely doing what she did last year, when German agents flooded the country and gave the large land-owners (who had no other outlet for their, produce), big prices for fine grain. The Roumanian jovernmjent refused to allow any waf. its rolling stock to be used to carry the grain, and Germany sent hundreds of goods trains to take it away. This year Germany) pleased with her success, determined to repeat the experiment, and as soon as Italy came into the war, and thus rendered the situation in the Balkans more critical, the German Government oought up all the grain that will be available in Eoumania down to the end of August. Germany paid 30 per cent, in gold at. once to bind the bargain, and she has promised the balance in fold on delivery. Of course this represents a very heavy profit to the fortunate landlords and financiers interested, especially as Germany has again offered to supply rolling stock to remove the grain, and has thus again put into their hands the opportunity for working up a very lucrative trade in railway freights. We must understand, therefore, ‘that this sale of Roumanian wheat to Germany is merely the completion of a “deal” arranged four months ago, and as very large sums are involved, we can hardly olame the Roumanians for their anxiety to complete their contract. But all these facts suggest that Roumania’s long delay in declaring her intentions and taking cart in the war has been due largely to the -necessity for waiting till the harvest is over, and Germany has settled her .grain bilitv It is , welL known that M. Bratiapq,. the Roumanian Premier, is oloselv. connected with the leaders of the Agrarian party, who bah profited solerge!y by these grain . and

though he is a thoroughly patriotic .. statesman, ; ’ w.e probably do him no injustice when wc suggest that his desire to promote the interest of the financial and land-owning dosses who form the main strength of his party, has had a great deal to do with Roumanianrather tentative and vacilitating policy dnripg the past six months. But wc believe that in spite of these long delays M. Bratiano means what he says when he assures the Allies that Eonmania intends to come into the war on t'ueir side, and it is quite possible that the completion of this huge grain “deal" with Germany will mark the “psychological moment” for which Eoumapia and the Allies 'have waited so long.