TWO BALKAN KINGS ON THE INTERVENTION QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2903, 16 October 1916, Page 5

TWO BALKAN KINGS ON THE INTERVENTION QUESTION

THE INSPIRATION OP FERDINAND OP RUMANIA. ("Tho Timoa.") ~ ,r r. t '-, ■„,',, London, October 13. Mr. Stanley Washburn, .writing from Bucharest, states that he had a series of conversations; with King Ferdinand of Rumania, who said:— "It is well the world should blow the dangers facing us. In entering tho. maelstrom of tho Great War Rumania was. not moved by policies of expediency or material, or by bad faith to the Central Powers, but. by' the highest principles of. national ideals. The tie of raco and blood underlies every consideration.' Tho appeal of tho pure Rumanian blood in Transylvania was the strongest force in the opinion of Rumania, from tho throne to the lowest peasant. Hungary has been our traditional enemy, because she held a million people of our blood in political bondage; while Bulgaria with an efficient army on a frontior difficult to defend has been logically a potential onemy. How Cermany Antagonised Rumania, ' "At the beginning of the war we had no hostility to Germany whatevor, but friendship for a potent commercial asset which was. bringing- prosperity. Wo had blood sympathies with Franco,(neighbourliness for Russia, and respect for England. During the war there has grown up as regards Germany what may be called an enemy viewpoint, dub to her principles that might is right, that the means justify the end, and that small nationalities exist merely as pawns for the Central Powers in advancing their industrial and commercial aims. _ She attempted to write her theory of frightfujness and lawlessness iuto international law. That affected us deeply; Rumania began to feel that Germany was trying to force her into war against her real interests. 'Rumania maintained her attitude of neutrality until she could act with reasonable assurances of protecting herself and'having tho support of the great Allies. ' "As a. small Power with small armies, surrounded by giants and long frontiers, she could not act before without instant annihilation. She waited no longer than was reasonably safe. She stakes her entire future on the courage of her people, and the economic and military support of the greater Allies. The_ Great War promises to last at least another year, and Rumania faces it with the-certainty of the consumption of her resources; but T feel certain the Allies will prevent Rumania being the third small Power to be destroyed. Peace Without Victory Impossible, "Rumania has no delusions. She known Germany will make every sacrifice to obliterate her from the map. The enemy is craving for vengeance and is now. by her aeroplane attacks on defenceless cities, making the innocent ipay the penalty for the Government's sound and just, action. This has created a bitterness which has enlisted the whole nation. "Making peace without victory is an utter impossibility. • Rumania will not falter from her' allegiance,; nor can Germany wean us from our faith in England the Just, France our brother Latin,- and our Russian neighbour. The ATiies, in the exigencies of. their huge problems,' will surely not allow Rumania, who has staked all, to pass to the back of their minds and suffer the fate of the' Serbians and Belgians. Wo are confident in the Allies? justice, in our cause, and in the fortitude and sacrifices of our people." AND KING CONSTANTINE'S. Australian-New Zealand Cabl« Association. London, October 13. The "Daily Chronicle's" correspondent at Athens states that King Constantino yesterday told a high diplomatist who beseeched him to change his policy: "I would prefer to lose my throne rather than endanger Greece. I am convinced that in fifteen days Rumania will no longer exist. If Greece joined in after tho conquest of Rumania she would share the fate of Serbia and Rumania." REIGN OF TERROR IN CONSTANTINOPLE 0 SATURNALIA OF HANGINGS FOLLOWS DISCOVERY OF ANTIGERMAN PLOT. (Reo. October IS, 5.5 p.m.) Rome, October 14. _ A correspondent of the "Tribuna" at Salonika, sfates that the German police in Constantinople discovered an extensfve plot to assassinate Fnvcr Pa-sba. and other Cabinot Ministers and German officials. Many weJlTknown persons were arrested and executed without trial. Fifty Bodies wore seen hanging Irom tho gallows on October 1, and masy additional hangings took place on tho succeeding days.