HURRIED ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1940, Page 5

HURRIED ACTION

NEW DICTATOR APPOINTED IN RUMANIA KING CALLS IN GENERAL ANTONESCU. TALK OF RUSSIAN THREAT TO FRONTIERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 5. A message from Bucharest states that, following the resignation yesterday of the Eninanian Cabinet under M. Gignrtu a royal decree was issued at dawn dissolving Parliament, suspending the constitution, and granting to General Antonescu (a former War Minister) .supreme powers to rule the country. Earlier messages stated that King Carol had called on General Antonescu to appoint a new Cabinet, and that the general was hurriedly forming a strong Government to restore order. As the Russian threat grows Russian troop movements on the Rumanian frontier are creating intense nervousness. General Antonescu has summoned all the Rumanian generals to a surprise conference, of which there is no official explanation. The Germans are expected to take action should the Russians march. A Berlin message states that it is officially denied that German mechanised units are taking over the defence of the Russian-Rumanian border. IRON GUARD DISORDERS. The disorders of Tuesday, when the Iron Guard attempted a coup d’etat, are revealed as more widespread and more serious than was supposed, and in spite of the outward calm there is an undertone of anxiety. The Iron Guard is expected to exploit the popular anger throughout the country against the Transylvania award. Demonstrators completely wrecked the Italian Consulate at Cluj and only police intervention saved the consul. The Italian Consulate at Timisoara is also reported to have been destroyed and the consul manhandled. Several deaths are reported to have occurred when Rumanian troops and civilians resisted Hungarians who were crossing the Satumare frontier prematurely. King Carol has accepted the resignation as a result of the shooting at the palace on Tuesday of M. Urdarianu, Marshal of the Royal Court. He has been King Carol’s righthand man. (Continued on Page 3.) NEW REGIME PROCLAMATION ISSUED. BY ANTONESCU. CONDITIONS IMPOSED ON KING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. September 5. Conditions laid down by General Antonescu for the formation of a new Government in Rumania have been accepted by King Carol. Under these the King gives up most of his powers and General Antonescu virtually becomes a dictator King Carol agreeing not to make any decision without first consulting General Antonescu. General Antonescu has issued a proclamation stating: This is not a new Government, but a new regime. My aim is to constitute a new programme —a national programme based on the national faith.” Some reports say that the conditions laid down by General Antonescu demanded the dismissal of some members of King Card’s staff, who are said to have had a strong influence on the King. This morning Hungarian forces occupied the first portions of the Vienna award territory in Transylvania. FIGHTING IN CAPITAL TROOPS CLEAR THE STREETS OF BUCHAREST. ■ General Antonescu, who has become virtual dictator of Rumania is busy forming a Cabinet, Daventry reports. One of his first actions was to announce his intention of strengthening Rumanian relations with the Axis Powers. No armed resistance is being offered to the occupation by Hungary of the portion of Translyvania ceded to her. The constitution of 1938 has been suspended and the two houses of the Rumanian Parliament have been dismissed. The King has lost the right to call Parliament, to declare war or to call the Cabinet together, without the approval of General Antonescu. Heavy fighting has broken out in the Rumanian capital. Further Iron Guard demonstrations have occurred and troops, armed with machine-guns, are clearing the streets.