Aug. 23.
The lot of Rumania at the present moment a particularly trying one, for she is being called upon {0 make territorial concessions.
Bulgaria and Hungary, for the sole purpose of preventing war in the Balkans. An. outbreak of war there is the last thing which Germany desires, for a Rumania, engaged in struggle for her existence, would require all that she produces for her own war effort, with the result {hat the slender supplies which she already sends forward to Germany would be stopped. The Bulgarian demand for the return of the Dobrudja, annexed by Rumania at the end of the Second Balkan War in 1913 has been met in full, and the boundaries between the two countries in that area will follow the line of 1912. That amounts to a complete surrender to Bulgarian requirements, though there still appears to be the outstanding question of the town of Silistria which commands a bridgehead across the Danube, the solution of which may prove somewhat dim cult. Apart from that the eventual transfer of populations, and the ueanting of compensation where appropriate may serve to remove this particular source of Balkan irritation, and ultimately bring] about a better understanding all round.
While details of the Hungarian demands with regard to Transylvania have not been published, sume cient information has emerged fo show that at any rate so far as the Rumanians are concerned, they are "enorm= otis, inconceivable and ridiculous." It is to) be assumed that Hungary desires to regain the whole of the area taken from her and given (0 Rumania at the end of the last war. To that the Rumanians are opposed, and apparently have been seeking a compromise calculated to meet some of Hungary's wishes without depriving Rumania of too much territory, The general effect of complete acquiescence by Rumania in Hungary's demands would deprive the former of the whole of the land lying west of the Carpathians and north of the Transylvanian Alps, and the reduction of Rumania to her old ' borders. Thus she would lose all that she gained in the Second Balkan War and the last war, and be deprived of access to the sea. To these Hungarian demands Rumania has been turning a dear ear. She is apparently prepared {o make some concessions, but is by no means prepared to go the length required to. satisfy Budapest.
The latest reports are to the effect that Germany is expected to apply. pressure behind the scenes in the capitals of the two countries, and it remains, to be seen wi will be subjected to the greatest influence. Comment in the Hungarian Press has clearly indicated the intention of the Hungarian Government to take the fullest advantage of the present situation and secure the territory of which it considers it has been robbed. There will be some sympathy in Berlin with that attitude, if only because it means the nullification of another of the peace decisions arrived at after the last war. A great deal, however, depends upon Rumania. Bucharest realizes the strength of its position in view of the fact that the last thing Germany wants is a Rumania engaged in war with Hungary, and if King Carol can convince the Germans of his intention to give up so much and no more, it is possible that the greatest pressure will be applied to Hungary in an endeavour; to persuade its Government to. accept what offered rather than run risk to the continuance of Rumanian supplies which warfare inevitably entails. Rumania's position is not wholly weak. What strength there is, however, is to be found in Germany's own necessity.' Should agreement be impossible and war resorted to, German policy in the Balkans would have become completely bankrupt. could not in this particular instance be very' strong, for while it is seeking to persuade Rumania to make these saeriflees, which are' really on German behalf, a glance at the map shows there is no quid pro quo in the shape of territory which Germany could at any time offer to Rumania. It may be that Germany contemplates recompense by other means, but that will be impossible, for the determination of Great Britain is to place Germany in such a position that she will be unable to implement any promises she may be making.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.