The progress of events in Roumania demands careful atten- tion.
It is more important to the Russian Government to retain its influence in Bucharest than even in Sofia itself, for without such influence it has no means for the safe passage of the Danube. A severe struggle has been going on there for months, and although M. Bratiano, who, with the King's sup- port, represents the Austrian party, has triumphed at the elec- tions, it has been by an unscrupulous use of the Executive influence. It is believed that the higher ranks of the Army have been gained over by Russia, which has always had a party among the Boyars, or great landed proprietors, and has always held out hopes to the people that, if Austria were defeated, the Austrian Roumanians should be included in the Danubian State. So dangerous have affairs recently appeared, that according to a telegram of March 13th, Prince Bismarck has intervened, and informed M. Bratiano that "he requested him to remain at the head of public affairs." M. Bratiano is said to have communicated this wish to his sup- porters in the Chamber, and to have described the foreign situation as extremely critical. Interference of that kind is so unusual, that it is unlikely the story can have been invented, and the most probable explanation is that Russia is really plotting for the Roumanian Minister's overthrow. She must, in fact, overthrow him if she intends to interfere directly in Bulgaria, unless she is ready to occupy the State, and waste fifty thousand men in protecting her line of communications.
