RUMANIA AS BASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1941, Page 6

RUMANIA AS BASE

FOR FURTHER AGGRESSION BY NAZIS MR EDEN GIVES TEXT OF NOTE ADDRESSED TO GENERAL ANTONESCU. MISLEADING ASSURANCES RECALLED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11.45 a.m.) RUGBY, February 12. Replying to a question in the House of Commons as lo whether he would make any statement of the reasons for the withdrawal from Bucharest of the British Minister and his staff, Mr Anthony Eden said: ‘'Perhaps I may best answer the question by quoting from the Note addressed, on my instructions, by the British Minister at Bucharest to the head of the Rumanian Government. It is as follows: ‘lt has become abundantly evident that this country's Government, which you have directed for six months, has become entirely dependent upon Germany. Not only actual facts, but also numerous statements published by yourself confirm this. Months ago you informed me that a small number of German troops were arriving in Rumania in order to instruct the Rumanian Army in modern methods of warfare and that the necessary equipment likewise was being despatched from Germany, for the rearmament of Rumanian troops. Some instruction, no doubt, has been imparted, but the essential development is the German High Command’s building up in Rumania of all the elements of an expeditionary force and concentrating, at various strategic points, large supplies of munitions and oil fuel. Rumanian territory is thus being used by Germany as a military base in furtherance of her plans for the prosecution of the war. These measures are being taken without one word of dissent from you. In these circumstances his Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom has decided to recall me and to withdraw the diplo- . matic mission and consular officers under my control.' ”