Until then the questions involved gave rise to constant discussion between Germany and Austria-Hungary, the latter throughout endeavouring to reduce the German demands, not only with a view to arriving at a peace of mutual understanding, but also because, if Germany gained a footing in Roumania on the terms originally contemplated, Austro-Hungarian economical interests must inevitably suffer thereby.

The demands originally formulated with regard to the Roumanian railways and domains were then relinquished by Germany, and the plan of a cession of the Roumanian harbours was altered so as to amount to the establishment of a Roumanian-German-Austro-Hungarian harbour company, which, however, eventually came to nothing.

The petroleum question, too, was reduced from a cession to a ninety years' tenure of the state petroleum districts and the formation of a monopoly trading company for petroleum under German management.
Finally, an economic arrangement was prepared which should secure the agricultural products of Roumania to the Central Powers for a series of years.

The idea of a permanent German control of the Roumanian finances was also relinquished owing to Austro-Hungarian opposition.

The negotiations with Marghiloman and his representatives on these questions made a very lengthy business.