Exit Laughing

Back in wartime February 1945, when the U.S. and Russia were still allies, Rumania was a free country, its King a well-intentioned young man named Michael. Last week in London, before a committee of U.S. Congressmen, Michael of Rumania recalled one of the incidents which led him to fire his own Premier, and in time led him to become an ex-king. Soviet Diplomat Andrei Vishinski had dropped around to the palace in Bucharest several times before to complain about unrest on the Rumanian home front. "This time," said ex-King Michael, "he was extremely violent. He again demanded to know what was happening.

"I said: 'I am doing things in our manner and according to the interests of my country, and besides, the conference at Yalta says that every country is free to choose its own form of government.'

"Whereupon he said, 'In this case, I am Yalta, and I tell you what to do . . .'

"Then he got up and banged his fist on the table and said that this evening, at 6 o'clock, he wishes to hear that Radescu [the Premier] has resigned and at the same time wishes to hear the name of the new man I appoint ... It was then 3 o'clock.

"After he got up and banged his fist, out he walked and slammed the door so hard the plaster wall shattered. I was told later that as he was walking to get into the car, he and his interpreter were both laughing their heads off."

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