SITUATION IN ROUMANIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 June 1916, Page 2

SITUATION IN ROUMANIA.

AWAITING AN AUSTRIAN DEFEAT

Rome, April 20. A Roumanian diplomat has made the following interesting statement to the correspondent of the Central News concerning the attitude of Roumania:— "The opportune moment for Roumania to emerge from her neutrality has not yet arrived; but it may arrive at any moment now. We are waiting for a Russian success in Transylvania.' We cannot enter the war before being sure that thi! Austrian line in Transylvania lias been wiped out. Our frontier towards Trartsylvania is an unfortunate one. It resembles the Italian frontier uh the Alps before the war. Austria controls the principal passes, and would be easily able tc invade our country. It is necessary that this control should be broken by the Russians, at least on the north.

"The Roumania army is now well equipped with munitions wherewith to begin war, but not for long-continued lighting. We have bought all the munitions that we need, but we have not yet received them, although we shall certainly receive them immediately we enter the field.

"Whilst waiting for the moment to act Roumania must needs think of her economic situation. It is necessary for our economic welfare that we should sell our surplus cereals, n 0 matter who the purchasers may be; and the lact that we have sold 150,000 waggon loads has no political significance. "To make war it is necessary to have money, and it is a matter of indifference to us whether the money comes from Germany or from England. That does not interfere with our liberty ot action. It must not be forgotten 'that our country is closed on all sides, and thai our maritime commerce exists r.o longer."