Omcx or Strategic Sksvicxs ResearchAkaiysis Branch
75
THE DEMOCRATIC FRONT GOVERNMENT OF RUMANIA
The present pro-Soviet Government of Rumania consists of aof leftist parties known as the Democratic Front, which in turn is dominated by the Rumanian Communist Party. During the seven weeks since its accession to power the Democratic Front has taken energetic steps to consolidate its control of the country. These steps have Included Intimidation of conservative opposition leaders by means of press attacks and arrests; purge of the Rumanian army, police, and administrative officials;trict leftist censorship of theystematic effort has been made to conciliate financial and industrial leaders, some of whom are tainted with coll*borationism, but whose cooperation is considered essential to the functioning of the Rumanian economy and the fulfillment of obligations to the USSR Theas alsotrong bid for peasant support by puttingawfor the division of large landed estates Into small farm holdings. The position of the new regime has been further strengthened by the support of the Rumanian Orthodox Church. Although the totalitarian measures of some Communist officials have caused distrust and tension between the Communist and non-Communist Government parties, the stability of the Cabinet probably will not be seriously threatened while It continues to enjoy Soviet support.
The Democratic Front Government, which came to powerarch, had been preceded by the coalition Cabinet of Premier Radescu, in which conservative as well as leftist parties were represented. The resignation of Radescu onebruary came a* the climaxonth-long political crisis marked by increasingly aggressive leftist attacks on the Liberal and Peasant Parties and their representatives in theGovernment, by Radescu's gradual shifton-partisanto the leadership of the conservative parties, and by final Soviet intervention In favor of the Democratic Front. Both Radescu'sand the appointment of Premier Petrc Groza were ordered by Soviet authorities. In presenting the Soviet demands, Vice-Commissar Vyshlnskl reportedly declared that the USSR was reluctant to intervene In Rumanian Internal affairs, but was forced to preserve order behind the front.
Meanwhile American authorities in Bucharest, who had not been notified in advance of tho Soviet decisions. Informed the Soviets that they would look with disfavor on any non-coalltlon regime and expressed the wish that no decisive steps be taken until consultations had been held among Allied representatives. Rumors that more active American intervention would be forthcoming momentarily strengthened the posl-
APPROVED FDR RELEASE DATE7
tton of toe conservative parties. Nevertheless the Oroza Qovernroent as finally formed Includedembers of the leftist Democratic Front and four dissident members of the conservative parties. Of the latter the most prominent is Vice-Premier Tatarescu, who had been expelled from the Liberal Party because of his participation In Kinghus, neither Manlu's relatively strong Peasant Party nor the orthodox Liberal Party headed by Dratianu is represented.
The Moscow radio and press immediately hailed the Orozaas the choice of the people andictory for Allied unity over "pro-fascist cliques" which had sought to involve the Rumanians in "fratricidal civilour days after Its formation the newgained considerable prestige from the Soviet transfer of northern Transylvania, which had been promised In the armistice terms, but which had been refused to previous Rumanian cabinets on the ground that Rumanian persecution of Hungarians interfered with the Soviet war effort.
The new Government, which naturally entertained better relations than its predecessor with locally chosen leftist officials in the provinces, moved quickly to strengthen its hold on the country. In the traditionally conservative Rumanian Armyenerals were retired within one week and three others arrested, apparently on charges of having permitted members of the fascist Iron Guard to escape from Rumania to Germany. The number of Rumanian troops stationed in the country wasreduced and their permanent regimental and divisionaldisbanded by order of tho Soviets.
The Bucharest police force, which the Soviets had ordered reduced in size during the Radescu regime, was now speedily augmented by civilian recruits, chiefly from radical left-wing groups. These Citizens' Guards were Instructed to deal severely with "all who try to prevent theof the new Government'shey appear to have been at least as concerned with suppressing the efforts of the Peasant andParties to mobilize their supporters as mrvjh the maintenance of law and order. By the end ofell-informed Communistthat political arrests in Rumania hadotalhough such arrests are often temporary and are officially stated to have been confined to collaborationist and pro-fascist groups, they appear largely to have been designed to intimidate the conservative opposition.
The strict press censorship Instituted by the Soviets during the cabinet crisis has apparently been continued by the RumanianMinistry. According to one account, press representatives are given daily instructions not only as to what dispatches may be printed but also as to the accompanying comment. The penalty for violation of instructions Is the suppression of the offending publication Late in March the conservative Peasant Party, whose two newspapers Inhad previously been banned, lostozen provincial journals. Liberal Party papers had already been forced out of publication by the
Communist-dominated typesetters' union early In February. Thisto leave the entire newspaper field to the Democratic Frontew "independent" but strictly controlled papers.
The Democratic Front has also strengthened Its position bysplits within the Peasant and Liberal Parties, both of which are divided over policy toward the Soviets and the Rumanian Left. Annumber of Liberal Party members appear disposed either to join the dissident Tatarescu and his followers, who already holdposts, or to make Tatarescu head of the Liberal Party in place of the present antl-Communlst leader, Brattanu Within the Peasant Party theretrong move to replace Maniaeader more willing to compromise with the Democratic Front The leftist aim In encouraging such splits ls not necessarily the destruction of the conservative parties, but may be rather to absorb their more docile elements into theFront.
White still attacking recalcitrant conservative politicians,nd war criminals, the Democratic Front has continued to seek the support and cooperation of other normally conservativeelements. Onarch the new Cabinet announced that, although officials who had been instrumental in coordinating the Rumanian economy with the German war effort would be punished, businessmen who had exposed themselves to prosecution aswould be spared. This step apparently was prompted by the drastic drop in Rumanian industrial production which had followed the purge of managerial and technical personnel. An example of the length to which the Government Is prepared to go to remedy this situation Is the treatment accorded Nlcolae Malaxa, former owner of one of the largest Industrial plants inormer close associate of King Carol and heavy contributor to the fascist Iron Guard. Malaxa had been Jailed and his stock In tbe Malaxa works confiscated because of his role in the unsuccessful Iron Guard puUchater he wasallegedlyesult of German pressure. Under the present regime Malaxa has not only been reinstated as manager of his plants but ls also toovemment Indemnity for machinery removed by the Soviets. Malaxa's technical manager, who was ousted several months agonown pro-German. Is apparently also to be reinstated.
The position of the Oroza Government has been furtherby the attitude of the church. While the Rumanian Orthodox Churchtate-supported institution normally supports anyGovernment, its clergy has in the past shown considerableof the Left. Nevertheless, soon after the Installation of the new Cabinet the Rumanian Patriarchastoral letter urging the clergy and the faithful to support the Government, which hecreation of tbeuch prompt endorsement of the Democratic Front may mean that the present tendency of the Orthodox Church in the Balkans toro-Soviet andro-Left position has now spread from the Slavic countries to Rumania. It may also reflect
the growing strength of the Ploughmen's Front (the peasant component of the Democratic Front) among Rumania's large and traditionally pious peasant population.
The agrarian following of the Groza Government may have been further Increasedeform decree ofarch which, while reaffirm' lng the principle of private ownership of farm lands, breaks up all estates of morecres into small peasant holdings. In many localities this decree will merely confer legalityrocess already completed. On the other hand, the Government's decision not to compensate former owners for expropriated lands has been heatedly opposed not only by King Michael, who has asserted that It Is unconstitutional, but also by Vice-Premier Tatareecu,andowner. Tatarescu's effort* tocompensation for expropriations, which he maintained had been promised before he took office, have thus far succeeded only In incurring Communist displeasure and threats that he will be dismissed. The issue of the law's constitutionality may be solvedroposed decree to amend the constitution, though King Michael Is reportedly unwilling to sign such an amendment.
Other developments have contributed to the growing tensionthe Communist* and their more moderate leftist associates. The Communist seizure of control in the most Important labor unions and in the General Federation of Labor was apparently carried out against tbe will of the rank and Ale of workers and was resented by other Government parties. The mounting number of political arrests has caused apprehension among the non-Communist ministers. Theaware of tacit Socialist opposition to their authoritarianhave reportedly begun to classify even thend are said to have denounced the Socialist leader. Petrescu,raitor. Finally Premier Oroza, leader of the moderate-leftistFront, Is said to resent the tendency of Communist officials to administer the country without his advice. Recent arrest* have deprived Grcea of members of his personal staff In whom he placed greatand he Is now reported to be determined to block certain extreme leftist proposals. The Communists, on the other hand, are said to be displeased with Gross's relative leniency toward the conservative parties, and to have declared that If he continues to oppose the extremists, he will be replaced by some "neutral" figure.
However, despite distrust and occasional friction betweenand non-Communist members of the Cabinet, tbe balance of power lies with the Communists and the Government appears relatively stable. As long as the present regime continues to enjoy Soviet support It Is unlikely to undergo any drastic change. While the extent of Soviet supportot entirely certain, and Soviet officials remain very critical of continued Rumanian Inefficiency and lack of good will In carrying out armistice obligations, Cabinet changes in the immediate future will presumably be of an administrative ratherolitical character.
On the other hand, the continuance of*severe Soviet economicIs reported to have caused disillusionment even among Rumanian Communists, at least one of whom Is said to have predicted that the unsympathetic attitude of the Soviets would soon undermine the cabinet and force It out. Moreover, difficulties have arisen In tbe negotiationsSSR-Rumanian commercial treaty. Tbe Bucharest Foreign Office expects the Soviets to insist that the treatylause providing for their financial penetration of the Rumanian economy. Vice-Premier Tatareacu, who also holds the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Is said to be unwilling to go to Moscow to conclude the treaty which, if It includeslause, would further weaken his position and might force him to resign. Finally, there Is evidence of continued inefficiency on the part of the Bucharest Government In coordinating central and localLocal officials, leftists themselves, criticize the Issuance offrom Bucharest without reference to local conditions. However, at present no opposition group appears capable of exploiting theseof the Groza Government because no other political force in Rumania is likely to win Soviet backing.
Original document.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: