ECONOMIC ULTIMATUM TO RUMANIA

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 9

ECONOMIC ULTIMATUM TO RUMANIA

German Demands Reported To Have Been Rejected

KING CAROL’S APPEAL TO KING GEORGE

Minister In London Emphasizes Gravity Of Situation

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received March 19, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 19.

The Rumanian Government has rejected proposals put forward by Herr Wohlthat, head of the German economic mission, that Rumania should gradually close down her factories and devote herself exclusively to agriculture and export all her grain, oil, lumber and cattle to Germany in return for a guarantee of territorial integrity and independence, states “ The Times.’ Herr Wohlthat also suggested that Rumania should by degrees cease her efforts, to build up a national industry. In view of this threat all the political leaders, including M. Julius Manin, former Prime Minister and leader of the National Peasant Party, who retired from public life because of disagreement with Government policy, have joined together. Reuter’s Bucharest correspondent says authoritative quarters describe as fantastic the report of the German economic ultimatum. They declaie that the negotiations are continuing normally and in a friendly manner. However, the same agency in London says that well infol med. circles in London confirm the report of “The Times” regarding Germany s demands against Rumania.

The “Sunday Dispatch” asserts that King Carol personally appealed to George VI following Germany’s economic ultimatum. The Rumanian Minister, M. Tilea. supplemented it by an appeal during an interview with Lord Halifax.

The “Sunday Times” understands that M. Tilea emphasized the gravity of the situation, declaring that 44 German divisions, including 22 in Czechoslovakia, were preparing to move eastward.