GERMAN-RUMANIA TRADE PACT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 157, 29 March 1939, Page 9

GERMAN-RUMANIA TRADE PACT

No Political Clause Involved ASSURANCE GIVEN TO BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 27. At the end of a very long answer in the House of Commons on the Rumanian-German trade agreement, the Prime Minister said that the extension of Anglo-Rumania trade and the promotion of economic relations between the two countries was a matter to which Britain attached the greatest importance. He referred to the recent decision to send a commercial mission to Bucharest, and added: “Rumania is still anxious that the mission should proceed, and that, of course, is our intention.” Of the agreement itself, Mr. Chamberlain said it was in the nature of a comprehensive programme the precise effects of which in practice would depend mainly on the manner in which its provisions were carried out. in these circumstances, lie declared, they must await developments before coming to any definite conclusion.

Normal Negotiations. Rumania had informed Britain that the negotiations had proceeded on normal lines, that the agreement contained no political clause, and that Rumania had not signed away her economic independence. As described to Britain by Rumania, the effect of the agreement in broad outline was to enable Rumania to dispose to Germany of a great deal of her produce for which she was unable to find alternative markets and to receive in return German assistance in the form of equipment and technical advice in the exploitation of her resources. It appeared that Germany would cooperate in the development of existing industries in Rumania, and in setting up new ones, particularly in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and mining. She would also assist in the construction of public utility concerns and communications, and finally she would supply Rumania with armaments.