THE JAPAN OF THE NEAR EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 296, 9 December 1908, Page 4

THE JAPAN OF THE NEAR EAST.

THE COXSUL-CK.NERAL OK KOUMAMA. Last month I referred to the movement in favor of establishing in London a bureau of information which would enable the kingdom of Hungary to keep itself, its country, its resources, and itpeople on the first line in the great per manent exhibition wlii-h exi-f- hi tlu streets of the capital of the world. WTnit I 1 hope Hungary may do. Rouiuania. her eastern neighbor, 'as already done (writes the English Keview of fieviews). Close to the very hub of the British universe, within a 'stone's throw of the Parliament of Westminster, at the south-wo-t end of I'arliaiiicul Street, surrounded by Covernment ollices of all sorts, „ew and old. the Roumanian Covernment has established tln-ir representative of the new school. Representatives of the old school abound in

London. Every independent sovereign State, and some which are not independent, maintain their ambassador, theif niinister. their agents: their cou-iils. But the object of all these diplomatic, or quasi-diplomatic, envoys has hitherto ben the same. They are accredited to the Covernment: they have no special mission to the people of the country ill the midst of which they live. To their own nationals visiting London they have certain duties, but to those nationals who stay at home, or to the nationals of Creat Britain, they owe no duties and discharge no obligation*. The honorary Coiisul-Ceneral of Roumaira, Mr. Alfred Stead, who has his ollice at, 4!'. Parliament Street, is a representative of a new sort. His mis--ioii is to make Rouiuania and the Roumanians known to the people of Creat Britain and all the dependencies thereof. ■"How i- the great experiment turning out." I a-ked. "Very well indeed," said Mr. Alfred Stead. "It is just a year since I received my appointment from the King. and I think it may be said that what was then a probable theory is now all accomplished fact.'' "Rather difficult." I objected, "is it not. to popularise Rouiuania?'' •'Difficult, but jKissiblo." said Mr. Alfred Stead. "Ignorance is dense, and prejudice denser. There are still intelligent people in London who do not know that Rouniania is just about the same size as has 'nearly twice the population which England had in the spacious days of Queen Elizabeth.'" "Yes. but England had coal, which made her the manufacturing—" •'Admitted-, but Rouiuania has got. petroleum to an extent which no one seems to realise. Knumania is one of) the iew countries which have defied the I apsrres'-ive ambitions of the Standard' Oil Trust. It has ClO.nnn.nnfl invested! in the petroleum industre: it« output last year was over eleven hundred million tons, and as the supply is estimated at '4OOO millions, it is practically incxhaustible.'' "But what about scapnrls?"

After Hie llusso- Turkish war. in which the Itoumaniau arinv distinguished itself so gallantly at Plevna, j'oumania obtained (he fioliruiljsi and the control of the principal mouths of the Danube. Tn this territory has been created the port of ('oiistanlza. destined to be the Liverpool or Antwerp of the Jilack Sea."

"You -peak enthusiastically!" "I speak of what f have seen and know. Koumania in material prosperity and in progressive reforms is advancing by leans and bounds. Hue of the mnsf important duties of my ollicc is. from time to time, t" revi-il Uonmania to keep myself posle.l ii, (he latest developments of the connlry. which reminds me ill many ways of Japan."

■•Your first love. - ' H observed. -Are you going to Lring out ,» companion volume to '.fapan. by the Japanese.' T.omnania. by the Roumanian*'?"

-That has long been an idea of 11. Sturdza. But a hook is an arsenal. This office is as an army constantly mobilised using the material of war in attacking the enemy." "And your enemies? - '

'T"tiorance. prejudice. mi-nndci'slaml-iiigs! The task will he more than ever diliicult if the new development in the Near Last should lead to the raising of the Eastern Question. Should that occur, our people'will lie glad to know what a pillar of strength and of peace liouniania. will be. in the midst of confusion and anarchv."

T agreed. -It' will lie uphill work popularising Ilouniania if all the Balkan peninsula is in flanH-s. r ' "Piouniania." he roplii'il. " lias a homogeneous imputation, a progressive legislature, clear frontier;-, a well-drilled army, and a patriot-snldier-kinjr. Tinumania detests I In- notion of war: lier policy is ]icaee. lint if onee lier exist-eiic-e or lier interests were threatened, .lie would l.ear lierself as hravelv as she l,a- ever done (if old."