The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1919. REFRACTORY ROUMANIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1919. REFRACTORY ROUMANIA.

The grave nature of the cabled messages relating to the extraordinary conduct of Roumania in dictating harsh terms to Hungary and refusing to heed the remon-, strances of the Supreme Council, cannot fail to be a serious menace to the preservation of peace for which the Allies have made such enormous sacrifices. For the time being Roumania appears to have lost her reason, and to be suffering with a swollen head; If her refractory conduct only affected herself it would be most reprehensible in view of the fact that the Peace Conference has charge of all matters relating to peace treaties where the Allies are concerned, and Roumania being one of the. Allies in the war is bound by every consideration of honor and policy to accept the dictates of the Conference on all matters cpneerning peace with enemy belligerents, but it has a far-reaching effect in its bearing on peace matters. One of the operating motives of the Allies in breaking Germany's aggressive power was the protection of the smaller and Aveaker nationalities, and it is obvious that if all these nationalities followed Roumania's lead by doing as they pleased, independent of their obligations to the Entente Powers who have brought about the deliverance of those who were under Austro-German doninotion, there would he a danger ot the peace treaty being a mere "scrap of paper," and the League of Nations a farce. It is inexplicable that a nation which has suffered so heavily as Roumania should court further disaster by imitating the arrogance of her enemies, because they have been rendered impotent by the defenders of the weak. The present position is one that cannot be allowed to eontinue, though the remedy i? not easy to find. The fact is Roumania is taking a mean advantage of her position, knowing that the Allies' hands are, in a measure, tied, and that they cannot well deal with her as an enemy. Yet, in defying her protectors she is acting the role of an enemy, for the consequences of her acts may have a far reaching effect in fostering among our late enemy belligerents a plausible . excuse for not carrying out the terms of the pence treaty. Above all things loyalty on the part of the whole of the Allies is essential to the preservation of peace, and in the Supreme Council has been placed full authority as to peace terms, so that disloyalty on the part of any nation associated with the Entente Powers in the war becomes a menace to the future peace of the world. Roumania must either be very short-sighted or obsessed with an overwhelming desire to have, some revenge for what she has suffered, but she has everything to gain by being thoroughly loyal to the Allies and everything to lose by being headstrong and defiant. A moment's consideration should convince her that her-future depends on the goodwill and influence of the Entente, and that the unwarranted usurpation of the functions of the Peace Conference is fraught with danger to herself and to the alliance which is pledged to defend the small nations. The more closely her insubordination is observed the greater becomes the marvel at her foolishness in risking her future. That alone ought to have sufficed to cause her to turn back into the path of rectitude and honor, but beyond that is the far greater crime of endangering the fruition of the work of the Allies, which her actions are so injurious]v affecting. If Roumania is necking a short and rapid road to fa''"" she will be speedily disillusirw''' for at all cost the Enl"'H.> ir rnst uphold justice and no' s"«-v> • the defeated nations to be the ui.j...' of any little upstart 'country that has just learned to

feel its feet. It may not have occurred to her, but there 'is an aspect of the question connected with her militancy and unreliability that, she will do well to study to good purpose, and that is the rise of the new Slav nationalities, wherein Serbia finds a place. It is quite conceivable that these nationalities may view Roumania's conduct as an indication of what may be expected from her in the future, and they may come to the conclusion that it will be safer to draw Roumania's teeth than to be subject to her outbursts of defiance. It will not take these nationalities long to become powerful, aud they may justly be expected to expedite the process in order to be in readiness for contingencies. It is a matter of the deepest regret that at a time above all others when there should be the most concord and harmony between the Allies that Roumania should have brought about a situation of the most crucial and embarassing kind. She is acting like a spoilt child in need of the birch, and the misfortune is that summary punishment of that nature is not possible. It is evident, however, that steps must be taken to fyit an end to the trouble, and it is for the Supreme Council to decide their nature. There has doubtless been provocation on the partof Hungary, but that does not justify Roumania in taking a lone hand to dictate terms that are not only outside her jurisdiction, but flagrantly opposed to . the principles to which the Peace Conference is pledged. While having no sympathy with the coquetting of the Hungarians with the Bolsheviks, the Allies cflnnot aljlow Roumania to over-ride the functions of the Peace Conference and to jeopardise their good work. If there is to be a durable peace there must be eliminated all friction that can be avoided, and no cause given for breaking faith.