Ever since German troops entered Rumania, ostensibly for the purpose of protecting the oilfields, and for the instruction of the Rumanian army in the technique of modern warfare, a change in British-Rumanian relations became inevitable. That has now come about by the action of the British Government in formally severing relations with Rumania, on the ground that Germany was using that country as a base for future military operations, and that Rumania had not even protested against this action. It was impossible for British representation to be continued in a country which is clearly under German domination, and the severance of relations was the only logical consequence. Whether this is followed up by a declaration of war greatly depends upon what happens in the future. Obviousiy if it ultimately transpires that Germany is using Rumania as a base for an attack upon Britain's ally,—Greece,—then war must result, for Rumania will then have changed from the very precarious neutrality she is at present observing to active assistance to Germany.
From one point of view the actual entrance of Rumania into the war on the side of Germany, even if the troops of the former did not march with those of the latter, is to be welcomed. It would immediately justify British air attacks on the Rumanian oilfields, and the chance to destroy this important source of oil would in all probability be quickly availed of. Indeed it has been argued with considerable force that these oilfields, now obviously in German occupation should have been attacked long ago. It Will be remembered that, when this contention was.originally put forward, it was stated that the reason why the R.A.F. had not attacked the Rumanian oilfields was because it was better to wait until the oil reached the German refineries and bomb it then, claiming that it was easier to smash a refinery than destroy an oil well It now transpires that Germany does not refine Rumanian oil. She does not, buy a drop of crude oil from Rumania. It contains from 30 to 40 per cent. of fuel oil which Germany does not want and which would only take up transport space. What the Nazis are interested in is refined oil and that is what they are buying,—aes much as they can carry. In 1939 Rumania exported 4,000,000 tons of refined products, and only 300,000 tons of crude oil left the country, all of which went to other Balkan states. Consequently, if it is easier to destroy refineries instead of wells the oil district offers just such a chance, while the complete partial destruction of it would strike a heavy blow to the Germans, and rob them of their main supply of this most necessary "of the chief reasons why the oilfields have not yet been attacked is that in order to do so British aeroplanes would have to fly over Bulgaria, or Yugoslavia, both of which are at present neutral. But there are indications that with the penetrations of Germans into Bulgaria the situation there may soon change. If Bulgaria continues to connive with Germany it may soon find itself at war with Britain, and the way would then be open for the much desired attack. Distances from. air bases in Greece and the adjacent island are not particularly great, and offer no obstacle to success if and when such a move becomes necessary. It is clear that with such an important pawn at stake as the Rumanian oilfields Hitler will be embarking upon a dangerous gamble if he pushes things too far in the Balkans. He may hope to be able to protect them from attack, but if he does, he is engaging in the same sort of wishful thinking which led Goering to declare that the German air would be secure from the British R.A.F. So long as Hitler maintains a neutral zone around Rumania the oilfields are reasonably safe, but if his actions lead Britain in turn to sever relations with Bulgaria and then bring on actual warfare, that protection will have disappeared, and the opportunity of striking at the main source of. so necessary a war material as oil will have been afforded Great Britain. That it will be availed of with the utmost eagerness may be taken for granted. If that is the case such bombing will be welcomed not only by the British at large, but by the British companies owning oil wells in Rumania, for, as one Ipndon director of such a firm is reported to have said, they would willingly give three hearty cheers if a salvo of bombs were dropped on their properties.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.