I was dismissed from office in the middle of the negotiations, and my successor did not attach the same importance to that particular item as I did.
On the German side there was at once evidence of that insatiable appetite which we had already noticed at Brest-Litovsk.

The Germans wished to have a species of war indemnity by compelling Roumania to cede her petroleum springs, her railways and harbours to German companies, and placing the permanent control of her finances in German hands.

I opposed these demands in the most decided manner from the very first, as I was convinced that such terms would preclude all possibility of any friendly relations in future.

I went so far as to ask the Emperor Charles to telegraph direct to the Emperor William in that connection, which met with a certain amount of success.

In the end the German claims were reduced by about fifty per cent., and accepted by Marghiloman in the milder form.