It is asserted that King Charles of Roumania, who is
visiting Vienna, has asked the Austrian Court for a distinct guarantee of his dominions in the event of their invasion by a Russian Army. He has been assured that this is impossible unless he will join the Tripartite Alliance, but that he will, of course, be pro- tected if attacked, without any formal stipulations. The King hesitates to join the alliance, which might involve obligations, if Germany were attacked by France, which he could hardly fulfil ; but it is understood that if Russia enters the Balkans, Roumania, Servia, and Bulgaria will assist Austria. That is an addition of at least 150,000 well-trained soldiers, occupying the whole line of the Danube, to the Austrian Army. It is noteworthy that the Roumanian King thinks the oriole serious enough to offer an alliance which must place him in permanent antagonism with Russia, and, in fact, if Russia wins, must cost him his throne. The seizure of South Bessarabia, however, after all the Roumanian sacrifices on behalf of Russia, created an irritation among Roumana which leaves King Charles little liberty of choice among alliances.
