HURRIED ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1940, Page 3

HURRIED ACTION

NEW DICTATOR APPOINTED IN RUMANIA (Continued from Page 5.) The resignation of M. Gigurtu was the sequel to the unsuccessful attempt to assassinate King Carol. As well as Premier, General Antonescu becomes the Commander-in-Chief of the Rumanian troops in Transylvania. General Antonescue was released yesterday from a monastery where he was confined on a charge of organising opposition to the Government after the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia. He is a supporter of the Iron Guard and was dismissed from the command of the Rumanian Third Army in 1938.

The Gigurtu Cabinet was formed last July with the avowed object of veering toward the Axis. M. Gigurtu himself is stated to have been a personal friend of Marshal Goering, and several of his Ministers were regarded as proGerman. His Cabinet included prominent members of the Iron Guard. This was originally a pro-Nazi party, but was outlawed last March, and since then has been co-operating with the Government. The Iron Guard is now said to be restive over the transfer of Rumanian territory, and it is suggested that this led to the attempted coup d’etat in Bucharest and other parts of Rumania last night. The Iron Guard s relations with Germany have been rapidly cooling off, and since the Axis Powers forced Rumania to cede territory the movement has joined the resistance party in Transylvania headed by Dr. Maniu. RUMOURS OF GERMAN ACTION. It was announced in Bucharest this afternoon that seven youths have been arrested in connection with last night’s events. Troops have been stationed all round the capital during the night, and everyone who tried to leave or enter the city was seized. Agency reports say that the situation in Transyylvania is becoming progressively worse. In spite of denials from Budapest that any troops are in Hungarian territory, a detachment of 20 troops wearing German unifoims is imported today to have arrived at an important Hungarian town and railway junction about 50 miles from the Rumanian. frontier. It is rumoured that the troops are the advance unit of the large force to be sent to Rumania as a part of the Axis promise of military protection. Budapest wireless today warned Hungarians living in that part of Transylvania which has not been ceded against rumours intended to create disorder by making them leave their homes. The Hungarian Government is reported to have issued a decree making civilians in the newly-annexed territory liable for military or State service. It is added that former Rumanian civil servants will be obliged to serve whether actively employed or retired.

A French radio report states that the German Minister in Bucharest protested to the Rumanian Government about damage done to German property in Bucharest and two other towns. Count Czaky, the Hungarian Foreign Minister, has stated that the Vienna award was the turning point in the life of the Hungarian nation, which now takes her place among the States or medium strength. The Axis Powers had announced after the occupation of Bessarabia that the dispute between Hungary and Rumania demanded immediate settlement, and after the failure of direct Hungarian-Rumanian negotiations, had settled the question by arbitration.

He expressed his deep gratitude to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini. Since July the Axis had made it known that a conflict between Rumania and Hungary would not have been opportune.