CAROL OF RUMANIA

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1930, Page 7

CAROL OF RUMANIA

Events in Rumania have taken a

dramauc and raiper unexpected turn

mice Carol has returned —natu.aily by aerop.aue—lo the country which has denied him, and Dr. Maniu, the leader of the National Peasant Party, having resigned, the wanderer lias already been proclaimed King by the Rumanian Parliament. Not all the

in-ws tliat is released from Bucharest can be believed as a visiting journalist found recently, complaining rather bit- j terly that some “is specially inspiv- j ed for export purposes only, and some of it is mutilated in transport. 1 ’ It is rather inconceivable however, that mes-, sages of the circumstantial nature now being published in the world press should be open to suspicion, and it may therefore be accepted as a fact that Carol has at last ascended to the itiifono of his father and his son. Whether he will long remain there, only the political parties can decide.

The Liberals when Bratianu was alive, were opponents of the Prince, and the National-Peasant Baity proessed to favour his return, though '•is solicitude was possibly inspired ••atlier by a desire to injure Bratianu than from love of the somewhat ainorus prince. It has been known for some time that Carol himself had tir-

’ of his exile and was anxious and w'liing to accept the crown he had twice renounced “if his country called. ” He appeared, not long ago, > hove heard the call, when, it will be remembered, his visit to England was terminated bv the Home Office on the ground that his suspected negotl- ' ions with his Rumanian supporters oonst'(■•’led an abuse of the British hospitality.

Lately Carol lias lain low, but apparently he has been steadily working for the day ivlien he could defy his ten years’ decree of banishment and relit ve his small son Michael of a crown

.v hi el. must have weighed heavily on his young brow. Since Ferdinand's death a Regency lias ruled the country, and it may be doubted whether the three members of the Regency ,Council will warmly welcome the return of the prodigal Prince Carol. ,jne member, Prince Nicholas, certainly will resent his elder brother’s reappearance, but as Prince Nicholas is more concerned with the driving of motor cars at prodigious speed than with the cares of office, and as he in likely to obey the dictates of his stern willed mother, he will probably retire gracefully, if the Dowager Queen Mario decides to extend a welcome to Carol.

There is one consideration which will have been all-important to Prince Carol in his latest and apparently successful attempt to recover the throne of Rumania—his reception by the people. In spite of his vagaries indications have not been lacking, from time to time, that he has a fairly strong personal following, and it has ever been claimed that 80 per cent, of Rumanians desire his accession, ihe Regency Council Ims functioned but

indifferently, none of its members having had any adequate training m the difficult art of government, and, it is rumoured, unanimity having not always blessed its decision. It is possible, therefore, that the people may welcome Carol as a more singleminded, if no more experienced, ruler Rumania is greatly in need of capital for the exploitation of her rich natural resources, and there is no doubt tnat the instability of the throne, which has been reflected in a certain instability nf domestic policy, has been a factor in causing foreign investors to fight shy of Rumanian enterprises.

I)r. Maniu has effected great economies since he became Prime Minister, and bis government has been sound and progressive, but the country is in need of a figure whose impartiality would inspire confidence among all sections of the community. Competent o ’servers have stated that such a man 's not to be found in Rumania. This Carol has been given bis opponmity. The most ardent of his adherents would scarcely suggest that his is a dominant personality, though it might be described as remarkable, but Carol nt least is a lineal successor of King '•Vrdinnnd, and as such might be accepted by the people as the best substitute obtainable for a strong king Carol’s enthusiastic reception at Bucharest suggests that his subjects are willing to forgive and forget his '■vast, indiscretions, and bis expressed dp+rvi'minatinn “to bring everyone who erred into the right path” suggests ♦’•nt he is anxious to play the royal part to some purpose.