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Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1927, Page 2

Tpie death o‘f Ferdinand of Ttouinania was a happy release for that unfortunate monarch, but it leaves his country faring a very confused and emhnr-

rassfng situation. After all the trouble that Prince Carol had taken to assure his father and mother, and the world at large, that ho had done with crowns and thrones for ever, Ferdinand and his advisers were, naturally inclined to take this solemn renunciation seriously. With the consent of the King, his councillors, and apparently the majority of his subjects, the succession devolves upon Carol’s five-year-old son Micnnel. Of course, a Council of Regency has been set up to manage affairs during the minority—and, by the way, says an exchange, there is likely to be a conflict for the control of the boy-king 'between the Council, AT. Bratiaiio, '“the power behind the tnrone,” the King’s mother Helena of Greece, and his grand-mother. Marie of Saxo-Coluirg, an ambitious and able woman, who appears to derive her ability and her energy from her own grandmother, our Queen Victoria. Rut poor little Michael's future “lies on the knees of the gods.” For the moment the chief interest in the Roumanian .situation centres round Carol, who, in spite of two formal renunciations of his rank and all his hereditary privileges, has suddenly declared that lie regards himself as the rightful King of Roumania. Quite apart from the official abdication of his rights Carol i.s not the sort of man that most countries would selcet as ruler c/f their own free will. In 1918 he ran away with the daughter of a Roumanian general. The prince was arrested, the marriage was annulled, and Carol then informed his father that lie would not carry on the succession. Accordingly, Nicholas, Carol’s younger brother, was accepted as hair to the throne. However. in 1921 Carol married Helena, daughter of King Constantine <a Greece, and his son was then recognised as heir-apparent. But Carol bad not settled down yet. In 1925 he eloped again, this time with a marriedwi mail, the wife of a wealthy Roumanian. lie then had the grace to resign his titles and to renounce the throne mice more. But now that the succession is settled, and his son is on the throne. Carol suddenly amiounees that he has changed hi.s mind. Apparently he lias forgotten till about Rratiano and Princess Helena and llie Dowager Queen Mario. "Willi them to guard young Michael it is not likely that Carol’s chances for the throne need be seriously considered. It is curious bow melodramatic these Balkan romances are more like the “Prisoner of Zonda” Ilian anything in real life, ltut doubtless we may safely predict that Carol will not reign in Bucharest.