On December 20th and 22nd, two rounds of elections were held to choose the Romanian Parliament. The election was held with universal male suffrage.
The first day was to elect Assembly of Deputies. The second on the 22nd was held to elect the Senate.
After two days of voting the tally looked like thus:
Parties Votes Seats
National Liberal Party 1103353 228
National Peasants Party 626612 5
Totul pentru Ţară 478368 70
National Christian Party 281167 35
Maryar Party 136139 3
National Liberal Party-Brătianu 119361 16
Radical Peasants' Party 69198
Agrarian Party 52101
Jewish Party 43681
German Party 43412 3
After the election, King Carol II asked the National Liberal Party to form a government. This is the party that has held electoral power since 1933. Gheorghe Tătărescu has led the party for some time. However, the party was unable to form a coalition government with the next two parties: The National Peasants' Party or the Totul pentru Ţară, otherwise known as the Iron Cross.
This left left the King with the choice of asking poet and politician Octavian Goga to form a government on December 27th. Goga's National Christian Party came in fourth in the polls and is decidedly very anti-semitic and has strong anti-Jewish rhetoric. The party is fascist and shares that in common with Totul pentru Ţară which is also firmly anti-Communist.
It seems he may be the right man for the job. But in the cause of stable government, Romania has become Fascist.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Bombing of Panay Deliberate
Observers who witnessed the Japanese aerial attack on the USS Panay two days ago declared tonight the bombing was unmistakably deliberate, precluding a possibility of error. The observers were rescued by the Royal Navy HMS Bee.
Though the United States gunboat had American flags painting on her awnings and a carried flags in every mast, squadrons of Japanese planes bombed the Panay at 1:35 PM (this would just half past midnight in New York).
The British Royal Navy has requested the stationing of Japanese Officers on the HMS Bee and likewise on the HMS Ladybird, also posted in the Yangtze Patrol. The Japanese have yet to respond to this proposal.
Reports are coming in that Japanese Officers boarded the Panay just two scant hours before she was attacked. They asked questions about her destination and details about the offensive in Nanking. Japanese forces also came alongside her and trained their rifles on her.
The gunboat was assisting ships Meiping, Meihsia and a third ship. As they conducted their business in the Yangtze River, they hugged the North Shore. The Japanese also set these afire.
When asked about recognizing different flags, Colonel Hashimoto, a superior commanding officer in the area in charge of the Wuhu (芜湖) area, said he was out of touch with his headquarters and that his troops could not distinguish British from Chinese flags. Neutral military observers here suspect the same inability to recognize flags on the part of many Japanese pilots.
Though the United States gunboat had American flags painting on her awnings and a carried flags in every mast, squadrons of Japanese planes bombed the Panay at 1:35 PM (this would just half past midnight in New York).
The British Royal Navy has requested the stationing of Japanese Officers on the HMS Bee and likewise on the HMS Ladybird, also posted in the Yangtze Patrol. The Japanese have yet to respond to this proposal.
Reports are coming in that Japanese Officers boarded the Panay just two scant hours before she was attacked. They asked questions about her destination and details about the offensive in Nanking. Japanese forces also came alongside her and trained their rifles on her.
The gunboat was assisting ships Meiping, Meihsia and a third ship. As they conducted their business in the Yangtze River, they hugged the North Shore. The Japanese also set these afire.
When asked about recognizing different flags, Colonel Hashimoto, a superior commanding officer in the area in charge of the Wuhu (芜湖) area, said he was out of touch with his headquarters and that his troops could not distinguish British from Chinese flags. Neutral military observers here suspect the same inability to recognize flags on the part of many Japanese pilots.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Japanese Apologize for the Panay
Yesterday the USS Panay was strafed and bombed by Japanese forces near Nanking China where offensives were taking place. It sank in the Yangzte River.
Japanese Foreign Minister Koki Hirota expressed "profoundest apologies" today for the sinking of the gunboat.
The Foreign Minister called on US Ambassador, Joseph C. Grew, to convey the Japanese Government's regrets. Mr. Grew said he had visited the Foreign Office this morning, before he had received the news of the sinking of the Panay, and had told Mr. Hirota that shells were falling near US ships.
The Ambassador had expressly asked the Japanese vessels and aircraft use caution.
News of the Panay incident was suppressed in Japan.
Japanese Foreign Minister Koki Hirota expressed "profoundest apologies" today for the sinking of the gunboat.
The Foreign Minister called on US Ambassador, Joseph C. Grew, to convey the Japanese Government's regrets. Mr. Grew said he had visited the Foreign Office this morning, before he had received the news of the sinking of the Panay, and had told Mr. Hirota that shells were falling near US ships.
The Ambassador had expressly asked the Japanese vessels and aircraft use caution.
News of the Panay incident was suppressed in Japan.
Japanese believe they have Nanking
Japanese troops preceded by tanks, have been rushing into Nanking since 4 AM local time when they captured Chungshan Gate. The city's capitulation is imminent.
The fighting continued anabated throughout last night inder clear skies and a half moon. Yeasterday, the Japanese forces took Lotus Lake which border Nanking's North Wall. Colonel and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh landed on this lake after their flight to China in September, 1931.
The Japanese have also captured Pukow.
The Chinese have demonstrated repeatedly their ability to take extraordinary punishment. Mostly unpaid and underfed, without any provisions for their wounded, the Chinese forced the Japanese to pay a terrific price for every foot gained around the gates.
As in 1900, when Chinese forces held Teintsin's walls until the hill of corpses exceeded 7,000 and conspicuously again at Tsinan in Shantung in 1928 when they fought with similar valor, the Chinese contested every foot of the Japanese advance.
Despite their own heavy losses, the Chinese are claiming the Japanese have lost 6,000. Japanese Officers have admitted they have only advanced 100 yards.
Besides the bombardment of Nanking throughout yesterday, the Japanese raided the Nanchang Air Field at noon. The pilots reported that they shot down two pursuit planes down and destroyed twelve others on the ground.
Just before sunset, several squadrons of Naval planes made a surprise raid on the distant Sian, capital of the Shensi province. It was said they destroyed an airplace and a repair factory.
Signalling their victories it this region, the Japanese are arranging to ring the centuries old bronze bell in the Hanshan Temple, Soochow for a New Year's Eve national radio broadcast.
More news on the USS Panay as it becomes available.
The fighting continued anabated throughout last night inder clear skies and a half moon. Yeasterday, the Japanese forces took Lotus Lake which border Nanking's North Wall. Colonel and Mrs. Charles A. Lindbergh landed on this lake after their flight to China in September, 1931.
The Japanese have also captured Pukow.
The Chinese have demonstrated repeatedly their ability to take extraordinary punishment. Mostly unpaid and underfed, without any provisions for their wounded, the Chinese forced the Japanese to pay a terrific price for every foot gained around the gates.
As in 1900, when Chinese forces held Teintsin's walls until the hill of corpses exceeded 7,000 and conspicuously again at Tsinan in Shantung in 1928 when they fought with similar valor, the Chinese contested every foot of the Japanese advance.
Despite their own heavy losses, the Chinese are claiming the Japanese have lost 6,000. Japanese Officers have admitted they have only advanced 100 yards.
Besides the bombardment of Nanking throughout yesterday, the Japanese raided the Nanchang Air Field at noon. The pilots reported that they shot down two pursuit planes down and destroyed twelve others on the ground.
Just before sunset, several squadrons of Naval planes made a surprise raid on the distant Sian, capital of the Shensi province. It was said they destroyed an airplace and a repair factory.
Signalling their victories it this region, the Japanese are arranging to ring the centuries old bronze bell in the Hanshan Temple, Soochow for a New Year's Eve national radio broadcast.
More news on the USS Panay as it becomes available.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
USS Panay sunk in Yangtze River
Japanese planes strafed, bombed and sunk the USS Panay earlier today at 1:38 local time. It was anchored in the Yangtze River near Nanking in China. The Japanese are currently involved in heavy fighting with the Chinese in and around Nanking.
The riverboat and three oil steamers Mei Ping, Mei An and the Mei Hsia came under fire from nine A4N. Two bombs from a B4Y also hit the Panay.
Of the Sailors on board, three were killed and twenty seven of the remaining forty-three were injured. Five civilians were also aboard including newsmen from Movietone and Universal News.
Many of the men swam to the Ohau, an American craft nearby. The Royal Navy also had the HMS Ladybird and the HMS Bee nearby that assisted with the wounded.
The Japanese have said that they saw no flags designating the ship as American. They are calling this an accident and do not wish any hostility with the United States.
The riverboat and three oil steamers Mei Ping, Mei An and the Mei Hsia came under fire from nine A4N. Two bombs from a B4Y also hit the Panay.
Of the Sailors on board, three were killed and twenty seven of the remaining forty-three were injured. Five civilians were also aboard including newsmen from Movietone and Universal News.
Many of the men swam to the Ohau, an American craft nearby. The Royal Navy also had the HMS Ladybird and the HMS Bee nearby that assisted with the wounded.
The Japanese have said that they saw no flags designating the ship as American. They are calling this an accident and do not wish any hostility with the United States.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Japanese attack Nanking
The Japanese have engaged in a siege on the city of Nanking (南京). Outside the city, 1 million Japanese troops wait for a reply to the many leaflets dropped over the city demanding a surrender.
Currently, there is an agreement among the Japanese not to shell portions of the city not occupied by Chinese military.
Many of the foreigners in the city have fled but 22 remain behind. They have formed a Safety Zone of some kind to protect themselves. They are calling themselves the International Committee with German businessman John Rabe as their leader.
Recently, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, has relieved the Japanese military of the required international laws for treatment of Prisoners of War. The Japanese troops are not even allowed to call the Chinese soldiers they have captured Prisoners of War.
Currently, there is an agreement among the Japanese not to shell portions of the city not occupied by Chinese military.
Many of the foreigners in the city have fled but 22 remain behind. They have formed a Safety Zone of some kind to protect themselves. They are calling themselves the International Committee with German businessman John Rabe as their leader.
Recently, the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, has relieved the Japanese military of the required international laws for treatment of Prisoners of War. The Japanese troops are not even allowed to call the Chinese soldiers they have captured Prisoners of War.
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