Death of King Ferdinand.--On July 29 King Ferdinand died at Pelisor, universally regretted. The Liberals, though weakened by Bratianu's death on Nov. 24, for a time averted internal disor der; but the opposition made capital of the increasingly strained relations with Hungary, and of an outburst of anti-Magyar and anti-Jewish hooliganism by the Rumanian students of Oradea and Cluj. On May 6, 1928, the National Tsaranist party, round which the opposition had rallied, held a monster meeting at Alba Julia to demand representative government, devolution and economic reform. The country was not ready to accept this programme; but on Nov. 3 the government resigned owing to a disagreement with the Council of Regency, and M. Maniu, head of the National Tsaranists, was returned to power with a large majority. The new government abolished censorship and martial law, mitigated the police regime, promised concessions to the minorities, and in June 1929 introduced, to the great satisfaction of the Transyl vanian wing of the Party, an Administrative Reform Bill, aiming at wide decentralisation of local administration.
Return of King Carol.--On Oct. 7 M. Buzdugan, one of the Regents died, and M. Maniu's appointment of his own partisan to succeed him aroused indignation. All parties except the Liberals grew favourable to the return of Carol (Charles), and on June 6, 193o, the ex-Crown Prince arrived in Bucharest. He was well re ceived; the Regents resigned, and Carol became King (June 9), his son reverting to the position of Crown Prince. The King's first cabinet, formed Oct. I o, was wholly National Tsaranist, but without M. Maniu or Vaida-Voevod. Growing economic difficul ties led the prime minister, M. Mironescu, to resign in April 1931, and a government was formed under M. Jorga, the King's old tutor, and M. Argetoianu. This was followed in July 1932 by a succession of National Tsaranist cabinets, which gave place to a liberal government under M. Duca in Nov. 1933. Meanwhile the extremists of both Left and Right had been gaining strength. The Communists were easily suppressed; but the measures taken against the extreme nationalist and anti-Semitic movement known as the "Iron Guard" led to the assassination of M. Duca in Dec. 1933. His successor, M. Tatarescu, restored order. The govern ment had to tackle the difficult problem of placating the influen tial Nationalists and protecting the rights of the minorities. The root of the trouble lay in the very severe economic crisis.
There was, in 1936, controversy throughout Rumania over the alleged "camarilla" which included Magda Lupescu, described as the "uncrowned queen." Transylvanian peasants led by Dr. Julius Maniu, the quasi-Fascist Iron Guard with its death squads, and other groups demonstrated against this influence at Court.
Foreign Poliey.—Meanwhile, under the skilful guidance of M. Titulescu who remained foreign minister through most of these
changing governments and largely influenced their general com position, Rumania consolidated her international position. The signature of the Organisation Pact of the Little Entente in 1933 strengthened the ties between its three members, while by the Balkan Pact of February, 1934, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey mutually guaranteed one another's Balkan frontiers. It proved impossible to bring Bulgaria into this Pact, or to reach an understanding with Hungary, and relations with Italy were strained by that country's support of Hungarian revisionism. On the other hand, M. Titulescu gained a very important success when in July, 1933, he brought about the conclusion of a non-aggres sion pact with the U.S.S.R., which appeared definitely to regulate the question of Bessarabia in Rumania's favour. On June 9th, 1934, Rumania finally recognized the Soviet Government ; and in 1937 Russia accepted de facto Rumania's claim to Bessarabia. In August 1936 M. Titulescu was forced to resign by the growing pressure of pro-Fascist opinion in the country. (N. L. F.; X.) Hungarian, Russian and Byzantine authorities are available ; the Chronicle of Hurul is a forgery. Later documents are contained in the Annalele of the Rumanian Academy (188o etc.) ; E. de Hurmuzaki, Documente privitore relative la istoria Romonilor, 3o vols. (1876 etc.), bibl. by N. Jorga, vol. x.; Kovachich, Scriptores Rerum Hungaricorum Minores (Budapest, 1798) ; N. Jorga, Acte si Frag mente (1895-96). Principal early works, J. L. Carra, Histoire de Moldavie et de Valachie, avec une dissertation sur retat de ces deux Provinces ( Jassy, 1777) ; de Launette, Memoire de retat ancien et actuel de la Moldavie (1787; 1902) ; G. Urechia, Chronique de Moldavie, 16th century, ed. E. Picot, French trans. (1878) ; M. Costin, Opere Complete, 17th century, ed. V. A. Urechia (1886). (b) Periods, Phanariot: P. Eliade, Les Origines (1898) ; 19th century, D. A. Sturdza, Charles ler, Roi de Roumaine, 2 vols. Acte ,si documente relative la istoria renascerei Romtinii (190o etc.). Latest period: F. Dame, Histoire de la Roumanie Contemporaine (1900) ; C. Kiritescu, Istoria razboillii (1924) ; N. Jorga, Regele Ferdinand (1924), Regina Maria (1924) ; S. Jonescu, Rapport sur ractivite du gouvernement liberal (1925). (c) Complete histories: A. D. Xenopol, Istoria Romdnilor, 6 vols. (Jassy, 1888-93, 1926). A monumental work but somewhat biased. Abridged French trans. Histoire des Roumains, 2 vols. (1896) ; A. Sturdza, La Terre et la race Roumaines (1904) ; N. Jorga, Histoire des Roumains et de leer civilisation (1920), good bibl., Eng. trans., J. McCabe, A History of Roumania (1925) ; N. Jorga, "Roumania" in Nations of the Day, ed. Y. Buchan (1924) ; D. Mitrany, "Roumania" in The Balkans (1915).