RUMANIA MOURNS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20051, 25 September 1939, Page 7

RUMANIA MOURNS

SLAIN PREMIER BODY LYING IN STATE ASSASSINATION THEORIES NAZI DEMAND FOR OIL ENTIRE OUTPUT WANTED (Elec. Tol. Copyright—TJnitod Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 25, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23. Messages from Bucharest state that, the body of the Prime Minister of Rumania, M. Calinescu, who was assassinated, is lying in state at the military hospital. The entire Government attended the memorial service. The post-mortem examination revealed that 23 bullets entered the body. All forms of public entertainment have been suspended for three days as a sign of ihc nation’s mourning. The country is quiet, although armed troops arc patrolling Bucharest.

The Bucharest correspondent of the New York Times states that one explanation of the assassination of M. Calinescu, given by radio, was that the Prime Minister refused delivery of Rumanian goods to Germany without cash payment. It is recalled that Rumania was forced into a treaty last March, promising Germany 25 per cent of the Rumanian oil production, but Germany sought the entire output and, it is learned, she inlonned Rumania at the end of Augusi that she expected to receive six months’ quota of oil within six weeks, necessitating the whole of the Rumanian production going to Germany until October 15. Thereafter Germany would not receive any more Rumanian oil for several months. Possible Seizure of Oil

One inference from this is that Berlin expected either that the war would have ended or by inid-October she would be able to seize the oil.

It is not known whether Rumania complied, but heavy shipments have gone to Germany. There has been fear that Germany would land a force by air and seize the oil wells before they could be sabotaged, a course on which it is believed engineers were determined. A Rumanian battalion was stationed at Ploesti as a precautionary measure.

The correspondent of the New York Times states before being executed the assassins of M. Calinescu admitted their guilt with bravado, and gave details, but did not name their higherup influences who are believed to be Germans and who are understood to have fled from the country. Organisers of Plot

It is learned that the leader, « lawyer, Dumltrcscu, on Monday mot a student, Cesare Popescu, who revealed that he and four other students from Ploesti had organised the plot to kill the Prime Minister. Dunritrescu took over the direction. He examined the place where the murder was to be carried out, paid all expenses and bought the car used for the assassination. Although he was an unemployed refugee, he spent over 40,000 lei, a large sum for Rumania.

Despite the severe measures against the Iron Guard it is clear that many members are still active and are obtaining money from a secret source.

World opinion is unlikely to be impressed by the German accusation that Britain was responsible for the assassination of M. Calinescu as it is well known that M. Calinescu was well disposed towards Britain. On the other hand, it is notorious that members of the Iron Guard organisation, which is openly anti-demo-cratic in outlook, and is known to enjoy the support of Germany, were determined to avenge themselves on M. Calinescu, who had disbanded them. They had already attempted to murder him in February. When action was taken against the Iron Guard there was a great outburst of indignation in Nazi circles.