The Waikato Times MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1940 DISMEMBERMENT OF RUMANIA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21207, 2 September 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1940 DISMEMBERMENT OF RUMANIA

Again the last territorial problem” in Europe has been settled. Rumania has ceded half of Transylvania to Hungary and for her selfsacrifice has received the blessing and the promise of protection from Germany and Italy. Ribbentrop smiles and Ciano breathes again, for the “settlement” came just in time. Any further delay might have led to an outbreak of violence and the spread of war to the whole of south-eastern Europe, which would have been a heavy blow to both Germany and Italy. With consummate diplomacy, which consisted of holding a pistol at Rumania’s head, the two Foreign Ministers will claim another triumph, Rumania will perhaps sink into obscurity, Transylvania will become Germanised and the Balkans will be saved from war—at least for the time being. Germany is alleged to have guaranteed the integrity of what remains of Rumania, a fact which in itself must be profoundly disturbing to the Rumanian people, who have had many illustrations of what Hitler’s guarantee means. If such a guarantee has been given it would be interesting to know whether it has the approval of Russia. The relationship between Russia and Rumania seems to be still far from settled, and numerous clashes in the air and on the ground have been reported. If Germany guarantees Rumania, Russia may find it necessary to deal with Hitler as a third party. Germany may, of course, intend to crush all resistance out of Rumania, and in effect make the Rumano-Russian boundary a German-Russian frontier. Such good friends are not likely to quarrel—yet. Germany speaks with pride of the “arbitration” of Ribbentrop and Ciano between Rumania and Hungary. There was never a greater travesty of justice. What thought had the “arbitrators” of the quality of Hungary’s claims ? There might have been cause for the hearing of the claims on the grounds of international justice, but Germany and Italy had more urgent and personal reasons for settling the dispute without recourse to war. Transylvania was lost to Austro-Hungary in another war, but it would be idle to suggest that Germany intervened on this occasion with the altruistic motive of restoring the territory to where it rightfully belonged. Transylvania, or part of it, goes back to Hungary, but that means that it comes within the sphere of German influence and eventually, if plans mature, within the German empire.

Transylvania is fruitful and picturesque and was the pride of Rumania. The Rumanians clung to it desperately until it was wrenched away by fonce. And now what is to become of its three or four millions of people, largely Rumanians ? Transfers may be made, but at best there is bound to be an economic and political upheaval, with untold suffering and hardship. Hungary will gain substantially from the use of a rich territory, and Germany will, through Hungary, have more ready access to the spoils. Hungary can refuse Germany nothing, for it was only the intervention of Hitler that made possible the settlement of the dispute in Hungary’s favour.