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Our  preparations  which  could  not  be  objects  of  public  discussion,  but
which  were  carried  on  with  great  activity,  could  not  be  indifferent  to  the  public
opinion  of  the  Central  Powers,  and  more  especially  of  the  leaders  of  the  war,  who
besides  their  military  action  were  attempting  a  parallel  action  of  buying  consciences, ­
  and  of  creating  a  current  of  public  opinion  favorable  to  our  joining
the  war,  side  by  side  with  the  Central  Powers.
Besides  this  action  which  was  carried  on  by  a  whole  series  of  propaganda  organizations ­
  which  distributed  pamphlets  and  illustrations  for  the  glorification  of
the  Central  Powers,  but  which  were  founded  on  the  corruption  of  consciences;
even  the  means  of  suppressing  publicity  by  buying  up  some  of  the  existing  publications, ­
  determining  them  to  back  their  policy,  were  endeavoured.
The  Roumanian  nation  did  notj  let  itself  be  led  astray  by  momentary
sucesses,  nor  could  it  deny  its  seculary  hope  in  the  unity  of  the  nation,  by  rash
adventure.
At  the  same  time  as  this  written  propaganda,  the  Central  Powers  made
an  attempt  in  an  economical  direction,  trying  to  get  hold  of  the  agricultural
products  and  in  this  way  to  avoid  the  blockade  of  the  allies.
The  German  Government  intended  to  make  through  its  agricultural  organizations ­
  in  the  country,  an  agreement,  in  force  of  which  the  Consortium  which
it  would  create  in  B nearest,  would  buy  up  only  from  the  big  land  owners,
whose  views  were  favorable  to  their  action  and  which  therefore  were  marked ­
  out  by  the  propaganda  office.
Evidently  that  such  attempts  placed  the  Roumanian  Government  in  a  very
delicate  situation,  because  it  they  did  not  agree  with  the  actions  of  the  Central
Powers  they  could  not  prevent  the  agriculturers  from  selling  their  crops.
As  the  first  counter  action  the  central  commission  of  export  was  created,
by  which  the  State  monopolized  the  sale  of  corn.
Two  contracts  were  concluded  with  the  Central  Powers,  and  one  with  the
British  Government  for  the  purchase  of  Roumanian  corn.
Thanks  to  this  last  contract  Roumania  though  neutral  consented  to  withdraw ­
  large  quantities  of  her  products  from  their  former  normal  outlet
which  was  towards  the  Central  Countries,  and  thus  contributed  to  the  blockade
of  her  future  enemies.  Turkey  who  at  the  time  of  this  contract  was  already
at  war,  side  by  side  with  the  Central  Powers,  as  the  first  service  which  it  could
do  for  its  allies,  blocked  the  Straits  of  Constantinople;  in  this  manner
the  corn  bought  by  the  British  Government  through  the  office  created  in
Bucarest,  could  not  be  exported  according  to  the  contracts  and  was  deposited
in  the  ware  houses  of  the  railway  specially  transformed  for  the  purpose  under
the  clauses  of  the  contract.
Thus  this  corn  being  purchased  became  the  property  of  the  British  government ­
  and  had  to  await  the  favorable  moment  to  be  transported  or  resold
But  it  is  a  fact  that  the  principal  object  namely  an  economical  blockade  operation ­
  against  the  Central  Powers  was  obtained  and  nobody  can  say  that  so  far
as  was  possible,  the  good  will  and  the  assistance  of  the  Roumanian  government
was  not  placed  at  the  service  of  this  cause.