Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1939. THE PROBLEM OF BESSARABIA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1939, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1939. THE PROBLEM OF BESSARABIA.

VUIJEN the European war started Russia had political claims in four directions, and in each case the political demam s were on a military basis. From the small Baltic States she wanted bases in order to safeguard her north-western lon.iei.'. She obtained these as Germany’s price for the Russo-German pact. From Poland she wanted the regions taken from Russia by Pilsudski in .1920. Iler main reason for wanting them was that the “line of the rivers” would afford a natural western boundary for Russia. This boundary she obtained when tiermany and Poland were at grips. As a. third demand she wan ecl a rectification of the borders in the Karelian region, so that the defences of Leningrad would be based on the chain oi. la vcs and rivers around Viborg. From Finland she also wantec mg Petsamo peninsula ceded by the Treaty of Dorpat in ■ ■ - • She wanted this region for the nickel, and also to act as a sa eguard for her port of Murmansk. Hence came the invasion of Finland.

But this is not the end of Russia’s claims. Russia has nevei really disguised the fact that she would, one day attempt to get. back the province of Bessarabia which Rumania obtained early in 1918, even though she formally recognised the treaty which handed over Bessarabia to Rumania. However, Russia does not want Bessarabia bec.au,se of racial or economic reasons. Il is a poor country with a population of about three million people, mostly peasants who are engaged in a hard struggle for existence. .It is an unhealthy climate, and is certainly the least prosperous and least attractive part of Rumania. Nearly a third of the population are Ukrainian Russians, while another third comprise the medley of races which characterise the Rumanian border provinces. Strategically, however, Bessarabia is important, because if Russ ba held it they could exchangeJhe frontier lino of the Dniester for the line of the I’rnili. Siieh a change would give them an. easier border to delend and a lai boiler one to act as a military base for offensive pressure outwards. It would give them control of the great railway systems that lead to Poland ; it would make them virtual masters of the rich plains of Moldavia, and it would enable them to cleave Rumania, in twain any time they so desired. Bessarabia. Thrace and Epirus are the three strategical nerve-centres ol the Balkans; and its northerly position and proximity Io the Great Powers probably makes Bessarabia the most important of the three. The preliminary to the invasion ol Poland was llie proclamation by Russia of 1 wo new military districts, one in West I’kraine and the other in White Russia, both of Ihem perfect bases, against Poland, Now, it is significant I hat a new military district Ims been established by Russia al Odessa, which is less than twenty miles from the Rumanian border and which is the traditional eeonom.ic outlet of Bessarabia. Russia, however, will doubtless walk wtarily as lar as Rumania is concerned because an attack oir the latler country would doubtless result in the Balkan Powers, except Bulgaria, which is as pro-Gcrman today as il was fin 191-1. coming to the assistance of .Rumania, and would cause Turkey Io open Ihe Dardanelles to the Allies, with the further possibility of Italy, as the “defender of the Balkan?,,” being drawn into the struggle on the side of Britain and. France.