RUMANIA: Grist for Groza

The U.S. and Britain could go on looking down their noses at Rumania’s Communist-dominated Government; Russia knew its own child, and would nurture it. Last week in Moscow, Russia followed its accolade of the Rumanian Government and its boss, Premier Peter Groza, by giving Groza a present to take home. The present: a general easing of the armistice terms given to Rumania when she abandoned” Adolf Hitler and his works a year ago. Items: ¶ Russia agreed to a “request” to return control of Rumanian railroads, restore part of Rumania’s Black Sea and Danube shipping fleets (including a flea-bitten fleet of small warcraft) taken as prizes.

¶ To meet the threat of famine caused by a three months’ drought, Russia will lend Rumania 150,000 tons of grain, repayable within one year. Interest rate: 5%. Russia will also take less Rumanian grain to feed Soviet occupation forces (between 500,000 and 1,000,000).

¶ The two countries will exchange nationals. Russia will repatriate Rumanian prisoners of war in return for “Soviet citizens —Bessarabians and Bukovinians—residing in Rumania.”

¶ Rumania’s $300,000,000 reparations debt, slated for payment within six years, is reduced. Amount of reduction: unstated.

Undoubtedly the agreement would ease the armistice burden on Rumanians. More important to the Kremlin: it might make Russian domination a little more palatable to Rumanians who still worry about such items as free elections and U.S.British disapproval.