Queen Marie speaks to the press

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 April 5, 1919

Queen Marie of Romania is back in Paris, after a successful visit to London. She is staying at the Place Vendome where Romanian flags flutter in the wind.   Earlier today, she sat down with Constance Drexel, a reporter with the Los Angeles Times.

Drexel was "ushered into a big salon" which was "fragrant with flowers."  Queen Marie stood up, to "extend a cordial hand in greeting."

Marie, consort of King Ferdinand, looked as if she "just stepped out of a Parisian band box."  She was dressed in a "simple blue serge dress," with a collar of "bright oriental silk," which "lightened her own unusually perfect skin."  A "large artificial carnation was at her waist." She wore a long rope of pearls and pear earrings.

The Queen was eager to talk with the American press, as she believe that her interview "will do good to my country and bring our position to the attention of the Entente." 

Queen Marie also declared that her fears about the Bolshevik revolution had come true.

"The recent Bolshevik invasion  is not a bad thing for my country, because western Europe did not realize the dance was so imminent.  My country is so far away, and our voices have been stifled.

"In my opinion there should be an alliance of Poland, Rumania, Serbia, Czechoslovakia as the fortresses in the east.

But we must know our boundaries first, must we not," and we are waiting for the Peace Conference to decide.  To reach an understanding everyone must be ready to make some sacrifice.  Rumania is ready to do her part."

She spoke with great enthusiasm about her visit to England, where her first cousin, George, is king.

"The English are such good friends.  They promised to send all sorts of stores and supplies.  When I saw Winston Churchill the other day he said there were loads of supplies that could be send from Constantinople as they were on hand there.  I dare say they are now already on the way, if not actually now in my country."

She also thinks the presence of troops would deal "Bolshevism a good blow."

"But I can readily understand how any government hesitates to send men to fight again, and I am certain Rumania will be supported by Allied troops before it is too late. At any rate it is a great comfort to know Gen. Mangin has gone to investigate.  I saw Marshal Foch yesterday and I told him how glad I was that without stores of ammunition, even without troops Rumania would come to the rescue as a fortress against Bolshevism."