ANXIETY IN ITALY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1939, Page 7

ANXIETY IN ITALY

OVER ASSASSINATION IN RUMANIA FEAR OF DEVELOPMENTS. EXPECTATION OF GERMAN MOVE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright NEW YORK. September 21. M. Calinescu’s assassination lias caused great excitement, sfafqs the Rome correspondent of the “New York Times.” The Italians are keenly concerned about Rumania and expected the Germans to make a move from the outside, but obviously the same results can be obtained from an internal overthrow. Italians are even more worried about the possibility of Russia taking Bessarabia, but so far as can be ascertained the Soviet has no plan of action in present circumstances. NEW PREMIER FORMER WAR MINISTER. BUCHAREST, September 22. General George Argesanu, commander of the Bucharest Army Corps, who has been appointed Prime Minister, is a former Minister of War and is regarded as one of Rumania’s best soldiers. He is 56 years of age. Among the members of the new Cabinet are General lon Ileus, who becomes Minister of War, and General Gabriel Marinescu, Minister of the Interior. The other posts are unchanged. The Rumanian Cabinet'has issued a proclamation condemning the assassination. The entire country has been plunged in grief. Nine assassins have been executed and a large number of other arrests have been made with the purpose of crushing the Iron Guard. The Government has the situation in hand and the whole country is quiet—By radio. NAZI NOTIONS BRITAIN, FRANCE OR POLAND BLAMED. LONDON, September 22. The Berlin radio declares that M. Calinescu’s assassination could only have been instigated by France, Britain or Poland, since these Powers were dissatisfied with M. Calinescu’s stand for neutrality. Dumitrescu may have been a man bribed by the British. VIRTUAL DICTATORSHIP FEAR OF REPERCUSSIONS. COUNTRY REPORTED QUIET. ’ (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 22. Rumania awoke virtually under a military dictatorship and still fearing serious repercussions as a result of the assassination of M Calinescu. The country, however, is quiet and there is no immediate indication that the Government is unable to handle the situation. A German wireless message professes heartfelt relief that the Government had stamped out the murderers and prevented a spread of trouble which might have affected the country’s neutrality. It is revealed that nine assassins, blindfolded, were shot one by one, with the same pistols as they used against M Calinescu, while crowds looked on. There were hundreds of arrests overnight and many more are expected. THOUSAND ARRESTED ACCORDING TO AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT. (Received This Day,, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 22. The Associated Press of America Bucharest correspondent says a thousand are reported to have been arrested today as the virtual military dictatorship exacted a heavy blood price for the death of M Calinescu.