BESSARABIA’S DECISION.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 July 1918, Page 5

BESSARABIA’S DECISION.

The Bcssarbian National Assembly, on April’9, voted for union with Rumania by 86 votes against 3 % The Rumanian Premier, who had .'arrived in Kishneff, acknowledged the decision amid enthusiastic demonstrations, and declared the union to be definitive'and indissoluble. Some days later the Bessarabian Ministry prcceedea to Jassy in order to present the homage of the Bessarabian people to the King and Queen of Rumania. A' Te Deum was held in the Cathedral in the presence of the Royal Family and the Rumanian and Bessarabian Ministers. The Archmandrite of Bessarabia and the Metropolitan of Moldavia officiated. After a review of the troops, the King gave a dejeuner at the Royal Palace, when his Majesty spoke of the fait accompli arising from the will of the Bessarabian people, and the indissoluble union with the Mother Country. Any suggestion that Rumania is recelving Bessarabia as German compensation for the hard terms of peace inflicted upon her by the enemy is incorrect. The union of Bessarabia with. Rumania, which has been decided upon by the Bessarabian people as'an act of self-determination, has nothing whatever to do with any peace terms. Tire action leading to this union started some months ago, when General Tcherbatcheff asked Rumania to help in restoring order against the Bolshevist revolution In Bessarabia. To this Rumania, at the desire and with the advaice of the Entente Powers, assented, and despatched seven divisions of her army into the country. The union of Bessarabia with Rumania is the desire of the Bessarabia people, and is in accordance with all the principles of self-determination. It is in no way German compensation.