CAROL THE MASTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 25, 29 July 1939, Page 7

CAROL THE MASTER

NEW RUMANIAN REGIME

ABSOLUTISM IN ACTION

STABILITY GAINED

Rumania, standing directly in Germany's line of advance to the Black j Sea, has become the unenviable centre j of world interest, writes R. H. Markham from Bucharest to the "Christian j Science Monitor." The trend of its foreign policy, the prospects of its stability at home, are subjects of i and anxious speculation. For the past i ■ few months King Carol's genius for) ' evolving a cautious foreign policy has jbeen reinforced by the diplomatic skill of the new Foreign Minister, i Grigore Gafencu, whose activity in i signing a trade pact with Germany! immediately after the Bohemian coup and in balancing this move with a ?lose understanding with Poland has kept the world guessing what is afoot. In any event there is a feeling that Rumania—especially since Britain has extended its non-aggression commitments to include not only Poland but other "imperilled" States —will not be jthe easiest game for the masters of German Welt-Politik. | The main need for Rumania, as for i all smaller nations in Germany's path, is unity at home. Here may be the country's weakest point, for the "royal authoritarianism" imposed by the King is by no means universally accepted. At the end of March a movement led by Dr. Juliu Maniu, Peasant Party leader and an old opponent of the King's adventures in autocracy, joined with the Liberals Constantine and George Bratianu and others in urging the monarch to form a truly national Government. While the King and the Governmental leaders were celebrating the first anniversary of the present authoritarian Constitution, orofessing to be completely satisfied with its working, Dr. Maniu was circulating a secret pamphlet designed to' show that it is a failure. Which is right? ABSOLUTISM IN ACTION. The present system is called royal authoritarianism by the Government and tyranny by the opposition. Perhaps these terms are synonymous. A more accurate term is absolutism. That is the system King Carol has imposed upon Rumania. He is absolute master, just as much as a Russian Tsar, a French Bourbon, or Egyptian Pharaoh used to be. He is the State. He is the executive, the judge, the law maker. All authority resides in him. He exercises powers of life and death. He decrees laws, interprets them, and enforces or violates them as he sees fit. He applies or disregards his own Co - stitution as he thinks best. At the celebration of the first anniversary of this absolutism, the Government gave itself up to unmeasured laudation of the King and the dynasty. In reviewing Rumania's modern history, the Acting Prime Minister did not offend his sovereign by presuming to refer to the worth of the Rumanian* nation or to the achievements of great Rumanian statesmen during the last three-quar-ters of a century. Had it not been for the radio apparatus and the blue iFascistic uniforms, one might have imagined a Vizier before a Sultan. Now what has this absolutism brought to Rumania? Firstly, order. Such regimes are usually founded to suppress or prevent disorder. That was the mission of Philip II and Emperor Francis Joseph. In this King Carol has succeeded. Rumania is a land of order, security, and tranquillity. And this is a gain. Rumania is incomparably a quieter place than in January, 1938. It is more civilised and agreeable and decent. POSITION OF THE JEWS. This is seen chiefly in the treatment of Jews. A year ago Jews were subjected to revolting attacks by a voluminous Press, the vituperations of which knew no bounds, and also were subjected to physical violence. Now they are perfectly secure, are not subjected to much humiliation, and are fairly free to continue with their work. The Jews are better treatea in Rumania than in any country between Rumania and the Rhine. And other minorities also are given more friendly consideration than formerly. Their actual situation has not j been improved to any extent, but in the absence of Press campaigns against them have been promised a more worthy place in Rumania's public life. On the whole, the Rumanian State is treating its 5,000,000 minorities with more dignity than at any time since the State was formed. Rumania's foreign policy, too, is being excellently conducted, due, of course, to King Carol and Grigore Gafencu, his able Foreign Minister. Rumania's foreign policy is deriving obvious benefits. In its aim of maintaining a stable balance in southeastern Europe, King Carol, through having the policy in his own hands, is showing outstanding prudence, and, when necessary, resistance. He always hopes that concessions made to one great Power will be neutralised by I similar concessions by another. He cherishes England's good will; but he is careful not to let friendship for England offend Germany. He refused to join England in any outright declaration against the Reich, and would not invite an anti-German conference to his capital. He knows that little isolated States must steer a middle course. ATTENTION TO PEASANTS. More official attention is being given to the peasant masses than usual, though the actual achievements, so far, are meagre. It is mostly a splurge, but a good splurge. These are positive features, which a fair observer must place on the favourable side of the balance. What is the price paid for them? Firstly, the stifling of the spirit of the nation. Of course, popular expression means some confusion. Selfgovernment means talking, perhaps shouting, even calling names. But when all expression of popular opinion is forbidden, spiritual stagnation comes. That is the case today in Rumania. The State is its King. The nation is ruled out. It must be pointed out, also, that corruption has increased, since much jof Rumania's public life is based on| [favouritism. Every single thread in Rumania passes through the hands of a local absolutist up to the supreme absolutist. Rumania's public life is a pyramid placed on its peak and resting on universal obsequiousness. Education has been regimented. This is partly good and partly bad. The Iron Guards had tasen possession of the schools. Now the Iron Guards have been converted into Royal Guards. The system is essentially th* same. It is not, fundamentally, enlightenment, but training, keeping step, saluting the right person, ardently. JUSTICE AND GOVERNMENT. Justice has been almost completely subordinated to the executive power. It is not even "Folk Justice" as in National Socialist Germany, but abso-

lutist justice. No Judge could thrive who opposed royal policies. In urgent cases, juridical processes are completely discarded. The greatest political reforms in Europe's modern history began some 150 years ago, when! French Judges strove to give independent judgment. Now a cycle seems! to have been completed, and there is a return to dependent Courts. As a matter of fact, the procedure in many i cases is that of a court-martial. j This regime has done much for the army. Perhaps this point should be placed on the positive side. But it I seems that less actual progress is being made than under the parliamentary regime of George Tatarescu. War Ministers are constantly changed, officers participate in conspiracies, a "purge" I has been necessary, and the Premier ! himself, Armand Calinescu, had to take I over the War Ministry. The spirit of ! the army has not been improved. It I has been forced to. become too intimately identified with this absolutist regime. The value of the leu has fallen by nearly 50 per cent. —a significant comment on the economy. Such is the balance of Rumania's absolutism. Was there no other way to save Rumania from the Rumanians, except by taking all power out of their j hands? And can a people that has to 'be preserved from itself be preserved? j This writer cannot but believe that, ' after all, the best protection of I Rumania must be the Rumanian people!