_The New York Daily Greek Atlantis, in its issue of Nov. 21, 1914,
reports as follows the statement of three Rumanian leaders to a Greek
paper in Constantinople. The Rumanian Foreign Minister, Mr. Purumbaru,
said:_
Rumania is inspired by a sincere desire not to displease either of the
two European Georges. Having adopted a policy of neutrality, she will
maintain it to the end. Russia has expressed her satisfaction with the
present attitude of Rumania, while Austria, since the beginning of the
war, has avoided taking any oppressive measures against the Rumanians
of Transylvania. As regards Italy, the Rumanian people harbor the
friendliest intentions toward her. The Italo-Rumanian relations are
most cordial. In Rumania the policy of Italy is followed with much
attention. The relations of Rumania toward the other Balkan States,
and especially toward Servia and Greece, are good. It is true that the
Bulgarian intentions are not very clear. It appears, however, that the
desire for peace is strong in Sofia, where it is felt that the
interest of Bulgaria lies in adapting rather the country to the
present situation than in throwing it into a struggle whose results
would be unknown beforehand.
As for Servia, Rumania has not intervened on her behalf in this war,
as it had not its origin in the Treaty of Bucharest.
In accordance with the common understanding of all the Balkan States,
Rumania is always in favor of a union of them all, but opposes any
combination between two or more Balkan States to the detriment of
another.
_M. Jonesco, leader of the Opposition, spoke on the Balkan situation
as follows:_
I always believed and still believe that the Balkan States cannot
secure their future otherwise than by a close understanding among
themselves, whether this understanding shall or shall not take the
form of a federation. No one of the Balkan States is strong enough to
resist the pressure from one or another of the European powers.
For this reason I am deeply grieved to see in the Balkan coalition of
1912 Rumania not invited. If Rumania had taken part in the first one,
we should not have had the second. I did all that was in my power and
succeeded in preventing the war between Rumania and the Balkan League
in the Winter of 1912-1913.
I risked my popularity, and I do not feel sorry for it. I employed all
my efforts to prevent the second Balkan war, which, as is well known,
was profitable to us. I repeatedly told the Bulgarians that they ought
not to enter it because in that case we would enter it too. But I was
not successful in my efforts.
During the second Balkan war I did all in my power to end it as
quickly as possible. At the conference of Bucharest I made efforts, as
Mr. Pashich and Mr. Venizelos know very well, to secure for beaten
Bulgaria the best terms. My object was to obtain a new coalition of
all the Balkan States, including Rumania. Had I succeeded in this the
situation would be much better. No reasonable man will deny that the
Balkan States are neutralizing each other at the present time, which
in itself makes the whole situation all the more miserable.
In October, 1913, when I succeeded in facilitating the conclusion of
peace between Greece and Turkey, I was pursuing the same object of the
Balkan coalition. On my return from Athens I endeavored, though
without success, to put the Greco-Turkish relations on a basis of
friendship, being convinced that the well understood interest of both
countries lies not only in friendly relations, but even in an alliance
between them.
The dissensions that exist between the Balkan States can be settled in
a friendly way without war. The best moment for this would be after
the general war, when the map of Europe will be remade. The Balkan
country which would start war against another Balkan country would
commit, not only a crime against her own future, but an act of folly
as well.
The destiny and the future of the Balkan States, and of all the small
European peoples as well, will not be regulated by fratricidal wars,
but, with this great European struggle, the real object of which is to
settle the question whether Europe shall enter an era of justice, and
therefore happiness for the small peoples, or whether we will face a
period of oppression more or less gilt edged. And as I always believed
that wisdom and truth will triumph in the end, I want to believe, too,
that, in spite of the pessimistic news reaching me from the different
sides of the Balkan countries, there will be no war among them in
order to justify those who do not believe in the vitality of the small
peoples.