Bessarabian Bugaboo

The anticipated attack by Russia upon Rumania over the Bessarabian bugaboo (TIME, April 14) was fortified during the week by numerous rumors concerning Russian mobilization on the Bessarabian border. No clash took place, however, and none is likely to lake place, according to some reports. A deep-dyed irredentist propaganda onslaught against Rumania and all those countries who recognize the Rumanian annexation of Bessarabia was reported to have been begun.

Meanwhile, War Lord Leon Trotsky raged in Moscow. "We will never agree that the Bessarabian workmen and peasants shall remain under the iron heel of the Rumanian nobles. We will not make war and we will strive to avoid it by all means. This, however, does not mean that we agree to the present situation. The Soviet Government will use all its power to liquidate the conflict peacefully. If its efforts are unsuccessful, however, this will be due to a desire on the part of the other side to aggravate the situation."